Sara Bareilles - Breathe Again

Whoooooooooooooooo, prettayyyyy! My friend was playing this song in his car while we were driving home from a concert we’d attended together, which is how I encountered it, but I guess this song was used on the TV series The Vampire Diaries. (I highly suspect that’s how my friend first heard it.) More recently, I heard it somewhere else and was reminded that I should post it. This doesn't sound to me like the other songs I've heard by this artist; I wouldn't even recognize her voice on my own.
Note: Another one to enjoy in HD!

Sara Bareilles - Breathe Again:

Avan Lava - It’s Never Over

The appeal of this song is largely through its music video, which is fun stuff. I think I came across it after I looked up another music video by this artist, which I already posted at the beginning of this year. It amused me how the two videos are completely different in style.
Note: Here’s an HD video for listening purposes!

Avan Lava - It’s Never Over:


And here’s the official music video, which is worth the watch:

Banks - Waiting Game

I heard this song on a Victoria’s Secret commercial. Evidently this song was also used on a TV show I’ve never seen called The Originals. Anyway, this song practically has me frothing at the mouth. It is quite the experience for the ears. It reminds me of Ellie Goulding.
Note: I recommend listening in HD!

Banks - Waiting Game:

Masaji Watanabe - Winter Song

This song is from a compilation album of winter-themed piano music by Japanese composers that someone got me as a present years ago. I have difficulty sleeping in the car on long roadtrips, but years ago on one of these long car trips when I was trying to sleep I put this album on and I actually managed to fall asleep to it.

Masaji Watanabe A.K.A. 渡辺 雅二 - Winter Song:

Olivia - December

Confusingly, this artist has the same name as another artist I’ve posted. I found this song by YouTube surfing earlier this year. It’s weird how infrequently I post R&B, considering how much I like it.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Olivia - December:

Biggi Hilmars feat. Damien Rice - Winter Tree

I came across this track on YouTube not long ago. Alas, the song is no longer on YouTube, but fortunately I found it elsewhere. I listened to it because I recognized the name of the featured artist, but it turns out he’s hardly in the track. Nonetheless, it’s nice enough without vocals, as the composition by the main artist, an Icelandic composer, stands well on its own. ‘Tis a nice song for the winter time, no?

Biggi Hilmars feat. Damien Rice - Winter Tree:

Hayley Westenra - Little Drummer Boy

Oh hey, it’s a Christmas carol I actually quite like! Some people adore Christmas carols as a genre. I am not one of those people. This opera singer was introduced to me through my grandparents, who bought an album by her for me as a present years ago.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Hayley Westenra - Little Drummer Boy:

Danny Elfman feat. Paul Reubens & Catherine O’Hara - Kidnap the Sandy Claws

This was always one of my favorite songs from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, not only because it got stuck in my head like none other but also because it was so surprisingly dark for a children’s movie. (Yes, as I child I appreciated things being inappropriately dark.) If you actually pay attention to the lyrics, the song’s not just about capturing Santa Clause; it’s about murdering him.

Danny Elfman feat. Paul Reubens & Catherine O’Hara - Kidnap the Sandy Claws:


The clip is here:

Mylène Farmer - Si J'avais au Moins...

I didn’t hear of this French artist until I came across this song while YouTube surfing recently, but after that I saw her name listed somewhere else, like a soundtrack or something. Evidently she’s a really, really big deal in France, so it’s not that surprising that I ran across her name shortly after discovering her. She actually holds the record for most number one hits in France of all time. From reading her Wiki bio, I get the impression she’s like the Madonna of France. She’s been around for a hot minute, stirring up controversy, but this song is from recent years. The song is supposedly about missing a deceased loved one, but the music video is virtually irrelevant.

Mylène Farmer - Si J'avais au Moins... [If I Had At Least…]:


And here's the official music video:

K.K. - दिल इबादत

This lovely tune is from the Indian movie Tum Mile (which I haven’t seen). For some reason I thought I already posted this song. I didn’t, I guess, but I meant to quite some time ago. It just sounds awesome from beginning to end.

K.K. - दिल इबादत [Dil Ibadat - Heart Prayer]:

Ikuko Kawai - Czardas

I found a video of this artist performing this piece through the related videos margin of YouTube. In case it’s not obvious, this Japanese artist is a violinist, but I didn’t realize when I came upon her music that she’s a composer as well. This piece, however, is not an original composition of hers; it’s by Vittorio Monti.

Ikuko Kawai A.K.A. 川井郁子 - Czardas:

Aloe Blacc - Ticking Bomb

I posting music by this artist before, but lately I’ve seen his name popping up a few places. Most recently, I heard this song used in a trailer for the video game Battlefield 4. With that kind of exposure, I can easily imagine that he’s going to blow up (pun intended) in the near future. He may be on the cusp of stardom!
Note: This is the official lyrics video, with HD!

Aloe Blacc - Ticking Bomb:

Bebe - Siempre me Quedará

Here’s a relaxing, laidback song from Spain. I think this is the only song I’ve heard by this artist, who evidently is also an actress. Turns out one of her songs was used as the opening theme to an Argentinian TV series, which I think I saw parts of the Mexican remake of.

Bebe - Siempre me Quedará [You Will Always Leave Me]:

Scissor Sisters - Let’s Have a Kiki

This grew on me like a fungus. It was covered on the TV show Glee and even though at first I wasn’t sure I liked it, I kept replaying it. The accompanying dance routine amused me, but even when I looked up this, the original version of the song, I hadn’t decided whether I liked it. It’s pretty odd but it gets stuck in my head too easily for me to hold that against it. This song has some profanity.

Scissor Sisters - Let’s Have a Kiki:


Here’s the official music video, which contains the dance, and was filmed all in one take:

NLX - Find Love

I heard this song in an episode of the American family drama series Brothers & Sisters. I’d never even heard of this artist before, but apparently she's Canadian.
Note: HD again, yo!

NLX - Find Love:

Cakra Khan - Harus Terpisah

I came across this Indonesian artist only today. I admit, I was not expecting this kind of voice to come out of this guy. Evidently he’s a fairly new artist, but I’d say with this interesting and controlled of a voice he’s got a good shot at continuing success.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Cakra Khan - Harus Terpisah [Have to Separate]:

Kokia - 調和 Oto ~with Reflection~

This is among the first songs by this Japanese artist that I had. I was first introduced to her music through an mp3 rotation site, which then led me to search for some other random tracks by her to sample and I found this one. I didn’t realize this was from the movie Origin: Spirits of the Past (which I never saw). Some of the lyrics in this song are coded Japanese (with the syllables backwards), which is kinda cool.
Note: You can experience the pretty in HD!

Kokia - 調和 Oto ~with Reflection~ [Chouwa Oto ~with reflection ~ - Harmony Sound ~with Reflection~]:

Vodka Rain feat. 장윤주 - 그 어떤 말로도

This is one of my favorite discoveries from recently listening to Korean indie music on YouTube. The featured vocalist is actually a model, but she has embarked on a singer/songwriter career as well. I found out the main artist had songs banned from the radio in Korea and was trying to figure out why, and eventually found out it’s due to references to alcohol in their lyrics. That’s funny, because then it seems like everything by them should be banned due to the artist name itself.
Note: HD listening, fuuuuuuuu!

Vodka Rain feat. 장윤주 A.K.A. Jang Yunju - 그 어떤 말로도 [Keu Eoddeon Mallodo - That Certain Word]:

Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats

I thought I posted this song ages ago, but can find no evidence that I did. VERY weird. Oh well. This is the second song I’m posting by this artist, but the first I heard by her. I’ve always liked they lyrics; they amuse me.
Note: This video has the highest level of HD I’ve ever seen on YouTube. Where did that come from?!

Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats:

Damien Crawford - Champion

I think I found this artist through an article or blog post or something. I listened to his EP of the same title as this song, and found this song especially to my liking. I didn’t post it, though, because I couldn’t find it on YouTube. It finally occurred to me today to check the artist’s official SoundCloud, and whaddaya know? It was right there. Ahahaha, I’m dumb.

Damien Crawford - Champion:

Hannah Schneider - In the Line of Fire

This is one of the first songs by this Danish artist I listened to. In fact, I think it was the second song by her, and it led to me suspecting that she has a pretty good variety of worthwhile songs in her discography. I confirmed this suspicion later!

Hannah Schneider - In the Line of Fire:

Iyanya - Kukere

All right, time for something festive. And so I bring you Nigerian music! Despite the autotune effect, I find the song pretty catchy, to the point that it got stuck in my head for months after I’d heard it only two or three times. I appreciate that the guys in this music video are doing the same dances as the women. And there are moments that make it seem like an equal-opportunity objectifier.
Note: The song is available in HD. And how cool is the artwork used in the picture?!

Iyanya - Kukere [Don’t Worry]:


Here’s the music video:

Daughter - Youth

The intro to this song reminds me of a Red Hot Chili Peppers song. This kind of music (vocals, instrumentation) isn’t typically to my taste, but what the heck. I do like the line, “Most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs,” and something about the lyrics, which I normally can’t focus well on, captivates me when it comes to this song.
Note: You can enjoy in HD!

Daughter - Youth:

Radical Face - Welcome Home

I heard about this song and artist through a message board thread with music recommendations. It reminds me of Jónsi’s solo work, even the voice at some moments. I just found out this song gained some exposure due to being featured in a commercial.
Note: HD, man!

Radical Face - Welcome Home:

Caroline - Winter

I heard this song in an AMV that was shown at an anime convention earlier this year. Until just now when I looked her up, I had no idea this artist was the younger sister of another artist whose music I’ve posted before, Olivia! Now that I know, though, I can hear the resemblance in their styles, both musically and vocally.

Caroline - Winter:

Cristiano Araújo - Caso Indefinido

I came across this song by YouTube surfing when I was on a Brazilian music listening spree. I came across quite a few artists who had voices I liked, including this one. Evidently he is also a composer. I’m not certain of my translation of the title, but I’d like to think it is correct because that would probably mean it’s a kinda cool play on words.

Cristiano Araújo - Caso Indefinido [Indefinite Case]:

A Fine Frenzy - Ashes & Wine

I’ve been listening to random songs by this artist over the past few days. She has such a nice voice with a variety of qualities to it. I fully intend to look into more songs by this American artist. (Oddly enough, I just kinda assumed she was British until I looked up her biography.)
Note: Hurray, you can listen in HD!

A Fine Frenzy - Ashes & Wine:

Angus & Julia Stone - Draw Your Swords

I came across this song through a fanvideo. I suspect that if I’d heard it only by itself, with no accompanying reason to replay it, I wouldn’t have found it particularly appealing. However, since it was paired with a video, I ended up hearing it repeatedly and liking it more and more. If the song stayed static in tone throughout, I probably would find it boring. At first, the song doesn't sound like something I'd be into, but as it goes on it gets better and better; it's like a reward for sticking around. Some people feel that beauty is desecrated by profanity, and if you're one of them you should be warned that this song has some.
Note: HD, suckaaaaaa!

Angus & Julia Stone - Draw Your Swords:

Bubble Sisters - 사랑 먼지

I came across this Korean artist recently, and although the name made me doubt their abilities (I pictured one of those uber-girly pop groups), I really liked the quality of their voices. They have a refreshingly mature sound. Now, about the melody itself, on the other hand…

Bubble Sisters - 사랑 먼지 [Love Dust]:

Wang Lee Hom feat. Rain & Lim Jeong Hee - 完美的互動

Everyone who listens to contemporary Asian music knows American-born Taiwanese superstar Wang Lee Hom... To be honest, I'm not a huge fan (though I don't DISlike him either), but I really like this multilingual song that features 2 Korean singers. Everyone who listens to contemporary Asian music also knows Korean superstar Rain, but I'm quite partial to Lim Jeong Hee. I've posted music by both Korean artists before, but it looks like this is my first time posting music by the main artist of this song.
 
Wang Lee Hom A.K.A. 王力宏 feat. Rain A.K.A. 비 & Lim Jeong Hee A.K.A. 임정희 - 完美的互動 [Wan Mei de Hu Dong - Perfect Harmony]:

Paper Aeroplanes - Winter Never Comes

Today is the first day of December, and yet it’s sunny and nice outside. It reminded me of this song (mostly for its title).  Evidently there’s a club remix version of this song that’s quite popular as well, but I opted for the original. I heard this song when it was used in the finale of the Scottish TV series Lip Service.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Paper Aeroplanes - Winter Never Comes: