Friday, November 30, 2012

Alina Artz - Прекрасная Ложь

I’m liking how dramatic a lot of contemporary Russian pop music sounds. This song is an example of that. It takes itself very seriously, but that’s okay.

Alina Artz A.K.A. Алина Артц - Прекрасная Ложь [Pryekrasnaya Lozh’ - Beautiful Lies]:

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Eyedea & Abilities - Now

This is the first song I heard with Eyedea (R.I.P.). It automatically put him on my list of favorite hip hop artists. I later found out he didn't NORMALLY rap that fast, but he did normally use that level of lyricism.
Note: You know I had to get this in HD. Plus it has lyrics (albeit a flawed transcription) so you can follow along with the rapidfire delivery.

Eyedea & Abilities - Now:

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Fit for Rivals - Damage

Gggggggggggggggggg. That’s the sound I make when I hear the lead singer’s awesome growly androgynous voice. There’s a tad bit of profanity.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Fit for Rivals - Damage:

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Darren Hayes - A Conversation with God

'Tis another track by the wonderful & talented Darren Hayes. I love how personal many of his songs are, and this one in particular is both beautiful and revealing; I think it's one of his best songs ever. It's about the point in his life at which he contemplated suicide by driving off the Golden Gate Bridge and was dangerously close to doing so. For serious. 0_0 (Even though he never specifically explains that in the song, the lyrics paint a picture so well that I could tell that’s what it was about even before I read interviews in which he says that’s what happened!) I’m glad he didn’t go through with it because then we probably wouldn’t have this great song!

Darren Hayes - A Conversation with God:

Monday, November 26, 2012

Khadja Nin - Sambolera

I found this on YouTube and thought it was nice and soothing. This is the first artist from Burundi I’ve posted! I was gonna say, “This sounds like it’s from the 90s,” but I later found out that’s probably because it IS. It seems to be about the sadness of war.
Note: Yet another hi def video!

Khadja Nin - Sambolera:

Sunday, November 25, 2012

R. Kelly - I Wish

Say what you want about this artist as a person, but the man can sing. I think I heard this song when it played on a hip hop/R&B music video program I watched after school when I was young. Clearly, it’s about losing loved ones. There’s a little profanity.
Note:  And the HD trend continues!

R. Kelly - I Wish:

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Sara Bareilles - Gravity

Admittedly, I haven’t really gone out of my way to listen to this American artist’s music, although from her first radio single I thought she was talented. Over time, I’ve seen more and more indications that this singer/songwriter/musician has attitude, and I like that, even though this song isn’t a good example of that. Rather, this song impressed me with its prettiness.
Note: I’m really on a roll lately with these hi def videos…

Sara Bareilles - Gravity:

Friday, November 23, 2012

Deftones - Change (In the House of Flies)

I just acquired the latest album by this artist, which people seem to be saying is a standout on their relatively long discography, so I wanted to celebrate this acquisition by posting another song by them. However, I haven’t listened to the new album yet, so instead I’m posting what I think was the first song I heard by them, and what got me interested in them in the first place. This song was used in a really good fanvideo someone made for the somewhat disturbing Singaporean film 15. This song fit the dark, sinister tone of the film so well I ended up watching the fanvideo many times and developed a liking for the song along with it.
Note: Woo, HD again!

Deftones - Change (In the House of Flies):

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Britney Spears - Toxic

Welcome to the only Britney Spears song that doesn’t annoy me. Although she’s been popular among my generation since I was a wee one, I was never a fan of her songs or singing, and in fact used to write vicious parody songs of her singles. However, this song is catchy.
Note: HD!

Britney Spears - Toxic:

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

One OK Rock - 混雑コミュニケーション

Although I haven’t listened to this Japanese artist’s album I have in quite some time, some songs from it have been playing in my head lately. As I’ve mentioned before, the lead singer’s voice is somewhat atypical for popular Japanese music and I really like it.
Note: HD listening available again!

One OK Rock - 混雑コミュニケーション [Konzatsu Communication - Confused Communication]:

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Crooked Still - Pharoah

I wanted to post this song a while ago but no decent quality upload of it existed on YouTube every time I tried. Until now!  Because this was uploaded a month ago.  Sometimes if I just wait around long enough someone else eventually uploads the song I want to post.  Anyway, I found out about this artist years ago through someone I knew in high school who invited me to join him in attending their concert, and sent me their music (including this song) to convince me. I ended up not going to the concert, but I still liked their music.

Crooked Still - Pharoah:

Monday, November 19, 2012

Boyce Avenue - Teenage Dream

This is a cover of Katy Perry’s popular song of the same name. I personally find this way better, vocally, lyrically, and instrumentally. I like how it's piano-based and acoustic, I like how they don't YELL the notes like Katy, and I like how they changed the lyrics to be about love rather than attraction.
Note: Found it in HD!

Boyce Avenue - Teenage Dream:

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Jenni Vartiainen - Ihmisten Edessä

Since the last time I posted a song by this artist, I have heard much more music by her, including her entire album Ihmisten Edessä. I had it on repeat for a while, in fact. This, the title track from the album, was among my favorites by her, but I don’t know a word of Finnish so I looked up the lyrics translation and discovered it had a meaning beyond that of the typical love song! The lyrics are from the perspective of a woman who is knowingly risking judgement and harassment by going out with her GF in public.
Note: The video has HD as well as English translations of the lyrics!

Jenni Vartiainen - Ihmisten Edessä [In Front of People]:

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Incubus - Aqueous Transmission

I haven’t listened to this song in soooo long. I think I found this song through an mp3 rotation site a long time ago. I believe it’s the only song by this American artist I have in my collection. I like the obvious Asian influence; the instrumental aspect of this song is sooooo nice.
Note: HD!

Incubus - Aqueous Transmission:

Friday, November 16, 2012

Rie Fu - Life is a Boat

This song was the ending theme of the popular anime series Bleach. I think I heard it first through a website for anime music, but after that I watched some of Bleach and frequently found myself sitting through the credits to hear the song. I don’t really like the singing style, but the song grew on me anyway, and now, years later, I still remember the lyrics.

Rie Fu - Life is a Boat:

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Roop Kumar Rathod - Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai

I found this song, from the soundtrack of the Indian film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, on YouTube. ‘Tis pretty! And the video I found for it includes English translations of the lyrics.

Roop Kumar Rathod - Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai [I See God in You]:

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Dream - When I Get There

Holy shiznit, this song is finally on YouTube! I’ve tried to post it multiple times in the past but was never able to find it in decent quality. Yeah, yeah, laugh it up... But for some reason I really like the melody of this song and it gets stuck in my head like a mutha. Did anyone even listen to this poppy girl group other than me? I doubt it…

Dream - When I Get There:

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Saliva - Always

This song is pretty well known, but what can I say? I like it! I don’t have any albums by this artist, I just heard what I heard by them through the radio and AMVs. This song in particular sounded good on the radio, but even better after I watched an AMV with it. Also, I never thought about the lyrics before now, but now that I’m posting it I’m paying attention and noticed it’s not as simple as my initial assumed meaning. I was curious enough to look up people’s input on that, and it appears there are a lot of interpretations of it!
Note: HD listening available!

Saliva - Always:

Monday, November 12, 2012

Lady Essence - What I’m Feelin’

This song was on a hip hop mixtape and was my first introduction to this artist. It’s about the process of self-discovery and the struggle for self-esteem. I’ve only heard a few tracks by this artist but I’ve already concluded that she’s a legit lyricist. There appears to be another artist by the same name, though, which is confusing.
Note: Check out the track in HD!

Lady Essence - What I’m Feelin’:

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Luduvico Einaudi - Questa Notte

I discovered this Italian artist very recently through teh YouTubez. I am, of course, envious of his composing and piano-playing skills.
Note: HD listening available!

Luduvico Einaudi - Questa Notte:

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Kokia - Il Mare dei Suoni

‘Tis time for some Kokia again! As always, it’s difficult to pick a single song by her because she has so many that are dazzlingly beautiful. I previously posted songs by her singing in Japanese (her native language), English, Irish, and Latin (a tiny bit), so now I’m going for one she sings in Italian. I can’t vouch for the accuracy of her Italian—in fact, I read that the lyrics have some mistakes… but darn it, she tried, and the final product sounds beautiful nonetheless.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Kokia - Il Mare dei Suoni [The Sea of Sounds]:

Friday, November 9, 2012

Tim Minchin - If I Didn’t Have You

This is the most accurate love song I’ve ever heard! This Australian comedian, in addition to being funny and intelligent, is also an impressive pianist. I've been listening to his stuff a lot lately and decided that he should be included on my list of favorite comedians.
Note: You can watch the performance from The Late Late Show (hosted by another comedian I like, Craig Ferguson) in HD!

Tim Minchin - If I Didn’t Have You:

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Yuna Ito - Endless Story

This song is from the soundtrack of the Japanese film Nana. Although I watched that movie, I think I acquired this song later through an mp3 rotation site. It’s a favorite of mine to karaoke to.

Yuna Ito - Endless Story:

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Nas - I Can

All day I've been running on one hour of sleep, and I'm not even tired. MAN, I'm in a good mood. The last time I posted a song by this hip hop artist it was much less optimistic, but this song seems more suited to my mood today.
Note: You CAN listen to this song in HD!

Nas - I Can:

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Faye Wong - 開到荼蘼

I’ve had this song in my collection for a long time, and I have just always really liked it. Her voice sounds soooo cool! I love that effortless vibrato she has.
Note: I can’t believe I found this in HD!

Faye Wong A.K.A. 王菲 - 開到荼蘼 [Kai Dao Tu Mi - The Last Blossom]:

Monday, November 5, 2012

Louis Logic - The Ugly Truth

This hip hop song could come off as reaaaaaally offensive to a lot of people… but that’s the point. The first time I heard this, I was pretty shocked at the beginning but as the song went on I became increasingly certain that the artist was up to some trickery… Unfortunately, some people don’t pick up on that and turn off the song before they get to the end which reveals the purpose behind the offensiveness, so all I can say is: listen until the end.  There is a lot of profanity, pejoratives, etc.
Note: In addition to listening until the end, I also recommend you listen in HD!

Louis Logic - The Ugly Truth:

Sunday, November 4, 2012

The Corrs - On My Father’s Wings

This is one of my favorite songs from the animated film Quest for Camelot. I had NO idea until I just now looked it up that the song is by this Irish artist, whom I knew of before this song. That explains the Celtic flourish of the song that I like so much.
Note; You can listen in HD!

The Corrs - On My Father’s Wings:


And here’s the scene from the movie with the song:

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Jang Woo Hyuk - 지지 않는 태양

I don’t know much about this artist except for that he used to be the in pop group H.O.T. I’m pretty sure I found this song through an mp3 rotation site and thought it was quite catchy.
Note: HD listening available!

Jang Woo Hyuk A.K.A. 장우혁 - 지지 않는 태양 [Jiji Anhneun Taeyang - Sun that Never Sets]:

Friday, November 2, 2012

Eisblume - Überleben

I hard a hard time picking one more song by this artist to post next, as so many from their first album sound nice. This German band makes the kind of somber, gothicy music that if I had discovered them back when I was in my first year of high school they very well could have become obsessive listening.
Note: You can enjoy the track in HD!

Eisblume - Überleben [Survival]:

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Gary Jules - Mad World

This track got famous from the dark & odd movie Donnie Darko, but I heard it first because my friend burned it to a CD in a compilation mix for me. I didn’t know this at the time, but this is actually a cover of a song by the British band Tears for Fears.
Note: Listen in HD!

Gary Jules - Mad World: