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Sorry for the lack of updates from me lately! Thanks, Carmi, for keeping the site active. :) This is a mixtape/rotation for the morning (I intended it as a "mixtape" but uploaded the songs individually). There's a lot of variety in this mix, for different moods and days. Some are for the times where you wake up to a nice, sunny day and you just need a nice, light song to wake you up. Some are energetic, uptempo songs for the times you really, really can't get out of bed. Enjoy the music! - Haruhi 001. Yellow Wings - Ferraby Lionheart English | Folk Pop/Acoustic A pretty, light song that relies mostly on delicately crafted acoustic guitar and Ferraby Lionheart's warm voice, which is perfectly suited to this brand of folk pop. Great for those warm, bright mornings where you're looking forward to the day ahead. 002. Eternal Love - mink ![]() Japanese/English | Pop mink is a Korean singer based in Japan, who sings a lot of songs with English lyrics. She's one of my favourite female vocalists. This song alternates between Japanese and English. mink's creamy, warm voice has such a lovely tone, and the hopeful melody of this song, sweet harmonies, and minimal accompaniment based on piano and acoustic guitar makes it a perfect choice to start your day with. 003. アイシテル (Aishiteru) - MONKEY MAJIK Japanese | Pop-Rock I love MONKEY MAJIK. I chose Aishiteru because of its beautiful accompaniment - I love the warmth of the piano, and how it contrasts with the crisp, faint acoustic guitar chords (later some electric guitar is used too), not to mention the light strings. It's a little downtempo in tone at times, but picks up during the chorus. 004. Sunday Morning - Maroon 5 ![]() English | Pop/Rock I don't think this song needs much of an introduction. I really love Maroon 5's Songs About Jane album although their newer work is a bit hit-or-miss with me, so this song is really familiar to me and I love the rich piano chords paired with Adam Levine's chocolatey voice. The smooth, laid-back feel of this song is great for mornings. 005. Always Running Out Of Time - Motion City Soundtrack English | Pop/Rock This song is from the Alice in Wonderland OST, it's got a bit of an indie-rock feel to it, featuring quick guitar work and catchy melody. 006. Mother Woman - As In Rebekkamaria ![]() English | Alternative Pop She's a recent find of mine, but I love her - this song in particular. Between a light, airy atmosphere, Rebekkamaria's refreshing vocals, and an innovative percussion and bass line, what is there not to like? She might not be for everyone, but at the same time I don't think that her music is so out-there that it's inaccessible - it's definitely very unique though. Give her a try, you won't regret it. 007. Shut Up And Explode - Boom Boom Satellites ![]() Japanese | Electronic This is for those mornings where you just can't get out of bed. Like you might have guessed from the name, this song is high-energy, in your face, and unapologetic. While it's not a song for all occasions, it's not just mindless noise either. Boom Boom Satellites mixes elements of rock and electronica - gritty electronic guitars, smooth synths - to create a fantastic atmosphere. If you need a song to get you pumped, this is it. 008. Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars ![]() English | Pop I don't know about you, but waking up to a creamy, smooth voice like Bruno Mars sounds pretty good to me. This is the single from his latest album. It's very feel-good and sweet, but it's all about the vocals - his voice is so unique and such a pleasure to listen to. 009. I was Wrong - capsule ![]() English | Electronica I uploaded this in my electro-pop rotation, but since this is the song I usually play when my first alarm goes off, I just had to include it here. It's the perfect song to listen to while you're taking your five-more-minutes of sleep before you really have to get up. This ambient track is just a little downtempo without being too slow, and the mixture of echo-y percussion and rich piano, coupled with gorgeous vocals, is just flawless. It's such a sophisticated song, and shows capsule's ability to do not only upbeat club tracks well, but also something very mature and beautiful. 010. Wake Up! - DEPAPEPE Instrumental | Acoustic Whenever I hear this song, I see a bright, sunny morning. DEPAPEPE is an amazing acoustic guitar duo. Just looking at the name, it's pretty clear this song is perfect for mornings. It's so summery and warm, and it always puts me in a good mood. 011. Hot! - Minwoo ft. Son Dambi Korean | Pop An upbeat dance track from Shinhwa's Lee MinWoo. It's energetic, bright, and refreshing. 012. Thieves in the Night - Hot Chip English | Electropop/rock Starting out with warm synths that lead into a bass drum backbeat before the vocals drop in, there's something about how constructed this song is that I really appreciate. It's not too heavy on the synths, but they're definitely there. Indie fans should check this out. 013. Running Out of Time - Hot Hot Heat English | Indie Rock Steve Bays has such a distinctive voice; it's definitely a bit of an acquired taste but I think it's perfectly suited to Hot Hot Heat's brand of upbeat rock. I'm not a fan of everything this band does, and their newer material is generally a miss for me, but I really like the bright energy of this song. It just makes you want to dance. 014. Tell 'Em - Sleigh Bells ![]() English | Electronic This is the first song I've heard from this Brooklyn-based duo, but so far, I'm hooked. Tell 'Em's rapid-fire synths/drums are perfectly executed, paired with anthem-like electric guitar riffs. Its energy is infectious, and it's so unique. 015. She Owns the Night (ft. Mohombi) - Far*East Movement English | Hip-Hop As much as I want to support Asian-American artists, Far*East Movement has always been a little too Americanized for my taste. That being said, She Owns the Night has a fantastic synthy bass part which is really boomy and deep, it provides a great contrast with the lighter synth lines over top (if that sounds like a lot of synths, they're handled well and the song itself is surprisingly light-sounding). You could still consider it a club song, but at the same time it's toned down enough to listen to outside of parties as well. Labels: Boom Boom Satellites, Bruno Mars, capsule, Depapepe, Far*East Movement, Ferraby Lionheart, Hot Hot Heat, Lee Min Woo, Maroon 5, mink, Monkey Majik rotation 53: mixtape - dance, dance, dance
Thursday, October 7, 2010 posted at 6:11 PM
A small mixtape that I put together quickly; I'm working on a bigger one (with a different theme) that will probably be the next rotation as well as a continuation of the first mixtape I posted here, don't mess with me (if you follow the link you'll have to click the entries icon to get to the entry). Sorry if you're not a mixtape fan as you'll probably be seeing a lot of them soon. Enjoy the songs! - Haruhi *mix: dance, dance, dance tracklist; 001 Seventeen Years Ratatat 002 Starstrukk 3OH!3 003 FLASH BACK capsule 004 A Plus D / Stardust Kids David Bowie vs. MGMT 005 美人計 Jolin Tsai 006 Pop (Feat. Saphfire) House Rulez 007 히비예 히비요 (Hibiye Hibiyo) Moon Ji Eun 008 I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance (The Twelves Remix) Black Kids 009 Girls on the Dance Floor (Feat. 24/8) Far*East Movement 010 Not Myself Tonight Christina Aguilera 011 Dirty Ice Cream Lady Gaga download; Mediafire Some of these are songs that I only like when I'm in a certain mood and otherwise would not really be fond of (Starstrukk, Girls on the Dance Floor, Dirty Ice Cream) but others are pretty good no matter what mood you're in - Seventeen Years is an awesome electronica-meets-post-rock track that is incredibly catchy, and I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance is also pretty catchy. I'm not a Jolin fan, but 美人計 is a really danceable song. A Plus D / Stardust Kids is a lovely little mash-up, and of course you can never go wrong with capsule, featured here with their song FLASH BACK. Labels: Black Kids, capsule, Christina Aguilera, David Bowie, Far*East Movement, House Rulez, Jolin Tsai, Lady Gaga, MGMT, mixtape, Moon Ji Eun, Ratatat [rotation 49] vanilla twilight
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 posted at 3:00 PM
I wanted to get a rotation up before I left, so I can go straight to the 50th rotation when I get back. This rotation is themed around electro-pop and synths. It's named after Owl City's song of the same name, featured below, because it seemed like a perfect fit for the dreamy, sweet quality that a lot of electro-pop has, although not all the songs here fit that description. Nothing Better - The Postal Service ![]() English | Electro-pop A side project of Death Cab For Cutie singer Ben Gibbard's, Nothing Better is charming and light. The synths remind me a bit of Owl City, although the vocals aren't quite as distinctive - not that they don't have their own charm. The play between the female and male vocalists is touching, and lyrically, it's also quite strong. Vanilla Twilight - Owl City ![]() English | Electro-pop I'm not a huge Owl City fan - their songs tend to blend together to me - but I do like a couple of their songs: The Saltwater Room, and Vanilla Twilight in particular. It's melodic and absolutely endearing. The lyrics are a bit sappy but sweet nonetheless. It's a cute song about missing someone, and the adept blend of synths mixed with brief touches of guitar and piano is lovely. Cuddle Fuddle - Passion Pit English | Electronic This song takes a while to establish itself, but I love the unique edge to the vocals starting at around 1:10 as well as the vibrant synths added at that point. It's not a favourite of mine, but it has a delicate edge to it that I like. Hey You - Pony Pony Run Run ![]() English | Electronic/Power-pop This song is so addictive. I can't get enough of it. The bassline and beat are awesome, and there's something about its laid-back guitar riffs and addictive hook that is so appealing. I love the bridge as well, where everything slows down a little and the synth backdrop becomes a little more dreamy. Definitely one of the highlights of this rotation. Beat In Love - Clazziquai Project ![]() English | Electronica Although Clazziquai is a Korean group, the lyrics of this song are in English. It's charming, upbeat, and their English sounds great. I especially love Alex's verses, there's something about the warmth of his voice paired with the synths that is just perfect. S.P.X - Humming Urban Stereo Korean | Electronica The more mature atmosphere of this song separates it from some of the others in this rotation. I always found this song to be one that required a certain mood, or else it comes across as a bit repetitive and directionless. It might not be the most accessible track, but come on, it's Humming Urban Stereo. Pool Party (feat. 사파이어 & 윤지아) - House Rulez Korean | Electronica I don't really like the chipmunk-y intro of this song, but all is forgiven when the splashes of brass enter. Like the title suggests, it's a great summer track with a lot of energy. 47 - Casker ![]() Korean | Electronic I love this duo, and songs like 47 are why. From the rich, lush intro of synths, I was captured. They definitely set a more serious tone than what you've heard in the songs above, but it's a welcome change of pace. The slight dissonance in the rising line of synths only adds to the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere of this song. YoongJin's smooth, elegant vocals are far different from what you'd expect in an electronica song, but it fits the song perfectly. Highly recommended. Twist In My Love - Instant Romantic Floor Korean | Electro-pop It's hard to classify Instant Romantic Floor - their music has touches of electronica, pop, house, and bossa nova. Twist In My Love has a couple surprises in store, particularly the very light use of synths and the more prominent use of strings - though not in a ballad-type setting, but rather something sweet and airy, words that could be used to describe the song as a whole. Snowdrop - Fanny Fink ![]() Korean | Soft Rock This Pastel Music group is a real gem. A soft, feathery song with surprising depth. I love the rich percussion and the barely-there vocals. Okay, on second listen I don't think there's actually any synths in this song except for a few deft ones blended in with the piano. Giant - Yozoh ![]() Korean | Electro-pop Although Yozoh plays with a lot of genres, mostly acoustic, Giant is a foray into electro-pop. Her feathery, light voice is a good match. A soothing, atmospheric track with an understated beauty. I was Wrong - capsule ![]() English | Electronica How could we have an electronica rotation of any sort without Japanese electronica duo capsule? The percussive intro of this song is fantastic, paired with a few lush, full-bodied piano chords. The vocals are achingly clear - and the English flawless. There's even touches of strings. It's sophisticated and textured. I love it. Preservative Woman - Aural Vampire Japanese | Electronica/Industrial Rock An upbeat, light-hearted track with synthesized vocals that surprisingly, I like. Unfortunately, the rest of the song isn't that appealing to me although it's worth a listen. QUESTIONS - MEG ![]() English | Electro-pop I've never been a big fan of Japanese singer MEG and never really understood her popularity, but her journey mini-album did have a few gems, one of which is QUESTIONS. It's polished and charismatic. The light, simple vocal execution really works with the catchy beat and bass. On a side note, there's an awful lot of Korean/Japanese artists with all-English lyrics in this rotation. Kids - MGMT ![]() English | Electronic The line of synths in this song is just so instantly recognizable. It puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it. Addictive and surprisingly delicate, I really like the slightly echoed, distant feel of the vocals contrasted with the clarity of the synths and beat. Daylight - Matt & Kim English | Electronica, Power-pop A cute track from Brooklyn-based duo Matt & Kim. It's bubbly and multi-layered, although the vocals are a bit of an acquired taste. Labels: Aural Vampire, capsule, Clazziquai, Fanny Fink, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Instant Romantic Floor, Matt + Kim, MEG, MGMT, Owl City, Passion Pit, Pony Pony Run Run, The Postal Service, Yozoh Just a few upbeat songs. Please comment if taking! - Haruhi Rock the Beat _ LMFAO I'm in Miami Bitch _ LMFAO Electronica/Dance | English These guys are probably best known for I'm in Miami Bitch which is on the game Tap Tap Revenge 3, Rock the Beat is a short minute-long intro-type thing that I just thought I'd throw in, it's bright, in-your-face, and fun. I'm in Miami Bitch is a confident, carefree electronica track. If you're in the mood for something brazen and upbeat, check them out. 황야의 무법자 (Vocal. 현아 of 포미닛/HyunA of 4minute, 낯선/Nassun) _ E-TRIBE Pop/Dance | Korean This song reminds me a lot of MC Mong's Indian Boy. It has the same energy and drive, and the beats and rapping are a bit similar as well. Between the two songs I'd probably still prefer Indian Boy, but it's a good song. Change Myself _ ICONIQ Pop | Japanese Okay, I guess this song isn't as upbeat as some of the others, but this is one of my favourites out of the songs I'm posting today. It uses a lot of synths, but something about ICONIQ's voice is just very light and R&B-ish, it reminds me a bit of Crystal Kay. A sweet, light track. Player _ capsule Electronica | Japanese This song is just crazy, and I love it - it's got some awesome beats, great synths, and an incredible energy and vibe. The Reeling _ Passion Pit Electronica/Pop | English These guys are a bit hit-or-miss with me. The Reeling didn't catch my attention too much upon the first listen but it's really grown on me. I really love how pretty and twinkly the synths at the opening are. The song is upbeat but at the same time, it's not overpowering. Labels: capsule, E-TRIBE, ICONIQ, LMFAO, Passion Pit rotation 15 [jazz, electonica, bonus]
Monday, July 7, 2008 posted at 7:00 PM
Rotation 15 is jazz & electronica themed & features 17 songs. Sorry, no cover images this time ... I couldn't find the majority of them anyways. By the way, the number of comments is starting to go down again. Please remember to comment or updates will decrease. I'm tired of spending time uploading for people who can't take the time to comment. Again, thanks to those who have commented. PART ONE * ELECTRONICA Tenjou wo Kakeru Mono Tachi Love Planet Five Japanese Great song, though a bit long at six and a half minutes. The mixing is extremely well done, especially in the first minute. Catchy beats & synths. Recommended. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 희망이라는 이름의 별 House Rulez & Rabbit Punch Korean Opens up with some bright piano chords that lend a nice dimension throughout the whole song. I thought it was pretty good. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 스웨터 (Sweet) Humming Urban Stereo ft. Taru Korean Humming Urban Stereo is great. Sweet offers an uplifting if slightly repetitive bass beat and fast-paced melodies. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Love Me capsule Japanese Typical capsule. For the most part without vocals, only a few spoken verses. Not one of my favourites, it's pretty repetitive. ![]() ![]() ![]() Twenties=Love Hourmelts Korean Starts out with a wonderful piano introduction that blends perfectly with the bass line. Features impressive changes in tempo and very smooth transitions, as well as interesting if somewhat strange vocal work. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Bittersweet Heart Apls Korean Although it opens up with a rap verse, don't be fooled. It gradually leads into an upbeat, bright song that offers a sweet contrast between female and male vocalists as well as the occasional rap verse. While Apls is a dance/electronica group, this song isn't too overfilled with synths. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PART 2 * JAZZ stem Shiina Ringo Japanese Very theatrical, with a bit of a waltz feel to it. Fairly slow tempo. Vocals get a bit annoying, though. ![]() ![]() ![]() STORM SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS Japanese Upbeat jazz at its best. One of my favourite jazz groups, this band can definitely compete with its American counterparts. Energetic trumpet solos and a beautiful rhythm section defined by smashing cymbals, fast-paced blues-scale bass lines, and a prominent piano accompaniment. Might be a bit too busy for some people, but I liked it. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Mocha Casker Korean From the Coffee Prince soundtrack, a low-key bossa nova track on the laid-back end of jazz. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ticket to London Loptomist Korean Okay so this song's actually by a hip-hop artist, but it's a very nice instrumental mix that mixes heavy beats with fleeting melodies. I would say it's jazz-influenced, so I chose to include it in this rotation. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Kiss Elevenses Korean Laid-back jazz with soothing female vocals and a nice guitar solo about halfway through. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 맑은 날 버스를 타고 Elevenses Korean Another Elevenses song, again on the laid-back side though slightly more upbeat than Kiss. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 因為你愛我 (Because You Love Me) Joanna Wang Mandarin I uploaded the English disc of Joanna Wang's album, this is one of the Mandarin songs. When I went to Taiwan this song & the Chinese version of Lost in Paradise were playing everywhere. It's one of her slower songs. While it doesn't really seem like a typical jazz track, the chorus shows jazz influences and she is a jazz vocalist, although this particular song is more of a ballad. There's also a nice trumpet solo and a trumpet accompaniment is prominent through the rest of the song after it. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PART 3 * MY PICKS Box in the ship [preview] Tohoshinki Japanese Pop Upbeat and with a tropical feel, a 2:30 low-quality preview of the b-side to "Why Have I Fallen In Love With You". ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Loveholic Loveholic Korean Soft Rock Not their best, but it's worth a listen. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Paradise The Melody Korean Soft Rock Very mellow & relaxing. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Explore "M" Lee Min Woo Korean Hip-Pop I love the beats in this song. Typical of Min Woo's solo work which leans more towards hip-hop without really being too heavy. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Labels: Apls, capsule, Casker, Elevenses, Hourmelts, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Joanna Wang, Lee Min Woo, Loptomist, Love Planet Five, Loveholic, Rabbit Punch, Shiina Ringo, SOIL+"PIMP" SESSIONS, Tohoshinki |