Lianne La Havas - Don’t Wake Me Up

When Janelle Monáe commands that you listen to a song, you listen to that song! And so went my discovery of this artist. It’s easy to see why she’d recommend her. This isn’t the particular song I was directed to listen to, but that recommendation led me to look up a handful of her other songs including this one.

Lianne La Havas - Don’t Wake Me Up:

Stephen Lynch - Grandfather

This standup comedian is also a talented singer-songwriter-musician who specializes in really, really offensive songs. This song, believe it or not, was one of the tamer ones. I remember it from years ago when I saw his standup special on Comedy Central. Although I haven’t seen his standup in years, this and other songs stuck in my memory because at the time I first saw them performed I was laughing so hard I was in tears. I love how his songs tend to be funny throughout but end on a twist that’s the knockout punchline. Needless to say, if you’re easily offended, don’t like profanity, etc. you probably won’t enjoy this song.

Stephen Lynch - Grandfather:

Selah Sue - Crazy Sufferin’ Style

Whoooooooo, I forgot about this Belgian artist for a while. It just so happens she recently released a new album, but this song is from her previous one. Her older songs have a more reggaeish sound to them, which is what I felt like going for today. I really ought to listen to her more.
Note: HD, of course!

Selah Sue - Crazy Sufferin’ Style:

Binary Star - Binary Shuffle

This artist’s one album was a piece of brilliance, and I’m long overdue for posting another of their songs. The point of this song: they don’t have to rely on cliché gimmicks of rap like flaunting wealth or boasting about violence, because their talent and skill at emceeing speaks for itself.
Note: The track’s on the older side, but the upload has HD!

Binary Star - Binary Shuffle:

Amber - Beautiful

Praise the heavens; my prayers have been answered! This artist has a solo career now! It’s just what the American K-pop fans have been wanting. Now I don’t have to wade through the girl group nonsense to get to the glorious Amberness. This wonderful new development was brought to my attention a few months ago by a friend who shares my infatuation with the f(x) rapper. As the rapper of f(x), I didn’t realize she could sing, but this song demonstrates ability in that area!
Note: This video not only has HD, it also has an English translation of the Korean lyrics!

Amber - Beautiful:

Cattle & Cane - Birdsong

It was so frustrating trying to identify this song. Like a lot of new British music these days, I heard it playing in an episode of Hollyoaks. I quickly knew I had to have it, but despite how clearly I could hear the lyrics my Internet searches for them revealed nothing. Finally, months later and only after my recent installation of Shazam on my phone, it dawned on me that I could use the app to solve the months-old mystery of the song title and artist. Sure enough, good ol’ Shazam picked it up when I played the episode. Some further Internetting revealed that this artist hasn’t even released their first album yet, so now it makes sense why I couldn’t find any record of their song lyrics online.
Note: ‘Tis the official MV, with HD!

Cattle & Cane - Birdsong:

Noora Noor - What Man Have Done

The premise of this song: much of the suffering among humans is human-caused. I was looking up a couple Norwegian singers, and then by coincidence, not realizing this artist is also based out of Norway, looked her up too. She’s a contemporary artist, but her music sounds like it’s from decades past. I found her through YouTube surfing. This is also my first post of an artist from the United Arab Emirates!

 Noora Noor - What Man Have Done:

Damien Rice - It Takes a Lot to Know a Man

I’m about to see this Irish artist perform live tonight! Dang, sad story behind this Irish singer-songwriter who already was writing sad songs prior to “the incident.” He used to collaborate musically with his romantic partner, Lisa Hannigan, but some years ago they broke up while on tour together, and she didn’t speak to him for a long time, nor did he release an album until the one this song is from, which came 8 years after his previous one. It’s his first album without Lisa, and he’s open about still not being over her. So if you thought his songs were aching and heartrending before… oy!
Note: Listening in HD is a wise choice!

Damien Rice - It Takes a Lot to Know a Man:

Park Ki Young - 그대 때문에

There are moments of this song where I’m like, “Dang, that’s SO pretty.” This artist still ranks among my top Korean artists, and this is true for one of my friends too, so it’s a little weird that in Korea (where group pop acts reign supreme), people I spoke too said they’d never heard of her before. I feel she brings something a little different from what many other K-pop acts do. I guess there’s a certain… maturity to her music?
Note: Despite her apparent lack of common name recognition in her home country, somebody was kind enough to upload this song in HD!

Park Ki Young A.K.A. 박기영 - 그대 때문에 [Keudae Ddaemune - Because of You]:

Ásgeir - Leyndarmál

This artist was the opening act for the Hozier concert I attended, but I didn’t know who he was at the time. Now I have come to learn this guy is a BIG FRICKIN’ DEAL in his home country of Iceland, and in fact is Iceland’s top-selling artist. His other songs are very calm and acoustic folk-oriented, but this one’s a little weird. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that!
Note: Hurray, HD!

Ásgeir - Leyndarmál [Secrets]:

RBD - Sálvame

I heard this song playing in a Brazilian restaurant, and when I looked it up I realized that the artist was a group that included artists I’ve listened to the solo work of: Anahí, Christian Chávez, and Dulce Maria (I’ve already posted songs by the first two). I like Anahí's voice, so that works for me!
Note: Got another HD one!

RBD - Sálvame [Save Me]:

SID - 証言

I just realized I hadn’t posted a song from this artist’s album Sentimental Macchiato yet! This was the strong opening track to the album. I listened to it a few years ago, after not having listened to their more recent releases, and immediately felt reassured by the thought, “Ahh, they’ve still got it.”

SID A.K.A. シド - 証言 [Shougen - Testimony]:

Naomi feat. Selda Kaya - White

In honor of my evening out tonight, I post this song that I heard at a Moroccan restaurant. My friend and I were late adopters to smart phones, but tried out our Shazam apps on this song to see if it would pick it up over the din of the restaurant. It worked, which is good because I like the song too!
Note: Found it in HD!

Naomi feat. Selda Kaya - White:

Exo-M - Black Pearl (黑珍珠)

If I’m not careful, Exo is gonna have me liking boy bands. They are an exceptionally talented bunch. Both Exo-K and this artist have great voices and catchy songs, but since I’ve already posted Exo-K twice this time I’m going with the Mandarin incarnation of the group.
Note: You know I got that HD!

Exo-M - Black Pearl (黑珍珠) [Hei Zhen Zhu - Black Pearl]:

ZZ Ward- ‘Til the Casket Drops

I heard this artist’s music in the American version of the TV show Shameless, and really liked her voice. Looking her up was a must, right from the onset of what I heard of her voice. Long live the singer-songwriter with the soulful voice!
Note: HD listening is recommended!

ZZ Ward- ‘Til the Casket Drops:

30 Seconds to Mars - From Yesterday

One of the songs by this artist that won me over. This song’s lyrics are its strong point, with their storytelling nature and poetic imagery. To me, the song sounds like it’s describing a soldier who’s killed and has trouble living with that weight. There’s a little profanity.
Note: HD, clearly!

30 Seconds to Mars - From Yesterday:


I also recommend watching the full “short film” official music video, because it’s cinematic, absurdly ostentatious, overindulgent, and aesthetically pleasing:

Kacey Musgraves - Follow Your Arrow

If you’re no stranger to American country music and the culture that surrounds it, this song and its accolades must have your jaw on the floor. I know it did mine. The young artist directs her listeners to stop caring about petty gossip and what people think of them, and simply do what makes them happy. It points out that no matter what you do somebody will have a problem with it, so you might as well disregard the potential criticism. This song’s lyrics and message are almost radical in the context of country music, a genre dominated by a conservative demographic, for their disregard for tradition, intolerance of smalltown mentality, and bucking of the status quo. Add to that the fact that this song was co-written by two of country music’s biggest out artists, Chely Wright and Shane Mack (whom I’ve posted music by before), and it’s even more incredible that this song was awarded Song of the Year at last year’s Country Music Awards.
Note: HD quality again!

Kacey Musgraves - Follow Your Arrow:

Ethnic Zorigoo feat. Tatar Zaya - Хүлэг баатар

Whew! Figuring out the translation of this song’s title took some multi-day intense Googling. My coworker sent this song to me as an example of Monoglian rap music. I think to him it was mostly weird, but I found it enjoyable! I like how it infuses modern rap with traditional Mongolian throat singing. I accidentally sent this song to someone and he told me he enjoyed it too.
Note: This is the official music video, with HD!

Ethnic Zorigoo A.K.A. Зоригоо feat. Tatar Zaya A.K.A. Татар Заяа - Хүлэг баатар [Khuleg Baatar - Knight]:

Marina & the Diamonds - Savages

I was recently in this artist’s homeland of Wales! This song was among my favorites on her new album because of its meaning. Even the most “civilized” of people can be barbaric because that’s what people are naturally like. Humans will be cruel given the opportunity or an excuse.
Note: HD video!

Marina & the Diamonds - Savages:

Stromae - Carmen

I attended this Belgian artist’s concert last night (yes, two nights in a row of concerts) and it was AWESOME. This song, which I hadn’t heard before the show, was a standout for me and I made a mental note to look up his song whose melody was based on Habañera from Carmen. It ended being easy to hunt down, since it’s one of his newest singles and the title is named after the opera I identified in my mental note. The song is about how social media is affecting our lives, leading us to become wrapped up in our social media presence and digital popularity, taking part in vapid facsimiles of human interactions often to bolster our own public image. The music video, like this others, is well worth the watch. In case it’s not obvious from the caliber of the visual creativity in his music videos, I can say after seeing Stromae perform live that he is quite the showman.
Note: HD and the official music video, which has an English translation of the lyrics!

Stromae - Carmen:

Florence + the Machine - What the Water Gave Me

Last night I went to this artist’s concert, and she was grand. She had both energy and swagger, was both statuesque and free-flowing. She reminded me of a wild horse. You cannot tame the goddess! This song, one of her many about drowning, has become a staple of mine at karaoke.

Florence + the Machine - What the Water Gave Me:

Redd - Her Neyse

I came across this melancholy little song when I was looking for Turkish music. My work is done here.

Redd - Her Neyse [Anyway]:

Ruelle - Up in Flames

Yet another moody “dark pop” song! I think I found this through YouTube surfing recently, although evidently it was featured in the American vampire-themed TV series The Originals and that’s how other people heard of it I suppose. This artist is from Nashville, home of country music, but clearly that’s not her style of choice. Instead, she opted for electropop!
Note: HD quality, ya’ll!

Ruelle - Up in Flames:

Joe Bonamassa - Pain and Sorrow

My friend introduced me to a song or two by this artist some time ago, and as he’s one of my friend’s favorite music artists my friend played a bunch of his songs on repeat in his car while I was riding in it, this being one of them. It grew on me!

Joe Bonamassa - Pain and Sorrow:

V. Bozeman - What is Love

This song was the opening moment of the uber-popular new series Empire. I’ve already posted a song from the musical show, but this is by a different artist who was featured as a vocalist only once, as she’s not a main character. However, her voice immediately captured my attention and made for a compelling reason to keep watching. She’s such a skillful singer!
Note: HD quality is available!

V. Bozeman - What is Love:

Clazziquai Project - The Road

For whatever reason, I got obsessed with a few songs from this artist’s album Mucho Punk, and this was one of them. I guess in this song’s case, it’s because it’s got a bit of an “epic” feel to it despite the majority of their songs being really understated and mellow.

 Clazziquai Project - The Road:

Laura Welsh - Break the Fall

I saw this British artist be described as a cross between Banks and Florence + the Machine, and I think that’s pretty apt. I’m gonna have to look into more music by her, for sure.
Note: ‘Tis another installation of HD!

Laura Welsh - Break the Fall:

Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar

I heard this song years ago but forgot about it until recently when I heard it playing at a club and was reminded of how great it sounds. Just his voice alone was enough to convince me I needed to look it up again. The lyrics sound like a beggar narrating his story as to how he got into his current situation.
Note: Once again, I bring you an HD upload!

Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar:

Bombay Jayashri - ज़रा ज़रा

This relaxing Hindi song is from the movie Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, which I haven’t seen. I just came across it on YouTube. I was pleased to learn that this artist not only sings but also composes music, and a song she composed for the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie The Life of Pi was nominated for an Oscar Award. I don’t know if I translated the song title correctly.
Note: HD quality again!

Bombay Jayashri - ज़रा ज़रा [Zara Zara - Just a Little]:

Candy Candido - One Meatball

This comedian and voice actor had an incredible 4-octave speaking range. I recognized his deep voice as the same as in the animated movies Peter Pan and The Great Mouse Detective, which I watched when I was little. I heard this song when it was played on an episode of the podcast The Todd Glass Show. The song wasn’t totally explained when it was first played on there, and at first I was trying to figure out if the first singer was a woman or not. Then I wasn’t convinced that both voices were done by the same singer. But they are! Happy April Fool’s Day!

 Candy Candido - One Meatball: