Puscifer - Momma Sed

I heard this song in the movie End of Watch, which I watched a few days ago. It has an ominous vibe that suits the movie well. This artist is also known for his participation in Tool and A Perfect Circle.
Note: You can listen to the track in HD!

Puscifer - Momma Sed:

Ana Carolina - Garganta

The first time I heard this Brazilian artist, I thought she was male—no joke. In this song it’s more obvious she’s female, though, as she starts out sounding vaguely like Shakira. She seems to be a well-established presence in Brazilian music, as she’s been around for a minute.

Ana Carolina - Garganta [Throat]:

Nuttin’ But Stringz - Egyptian in the Night

God, this sounds good. I love when hip hop is infused with classical influences, and I love when hip hop is infused with Middle Eastern influences, so this song that is hip hop infusing classical AND Middle Eastern influences was bound to be great. This is actually ALMOST nuttin’ but strings, and there’s a tiny bit of profanity.

Nuttin’ But Stringz - Egyptian in the Night:

t.A.T.u. - All About Us

For many Americans, this now-disbanded artist was the first exposure to modern Russian music. It’s time to post a song from an album other than their first one! Even though this is from their second Russian release, this song is in English. Admittedly, I find myself wishing there were a Russian version because the language sounds cool.
Note: You can listen in HD!

t.A.T.u. A.K.A. Тату - All About Us:

Tom Lehrer - We’ll All Go Together When We Go

Years ago, my friend burned a CD for me that included some songs by this artist/comedian, including this one. I was reminded of his songs when I was listening to the Nerdist podcast recently and the discussion participants brought up this satirist, raving at length about his genius. This song, written in the 1950s in the wake of the Cold War, is about how people can take comfort in the idea that, should humans cause a nuclear apocalypse, we at least will die together. Just a fun reminder that humor is a coping strategy.

Tom Lehrer - We’ll All Go Together When We Go:

Rainie Yang - 仰望

One of my friends sent me this Taiwanese artist’s music video for this song. I’ve known who this pop star was for a long time, but I didn’t even recognize her at first because she had a more mature look and her singing was noticeably better. It seems as of the past few years she’s re-emerged with a more grown-up image. I was like, “When did she learn how to sing?!” It’s still not amazing, but it’s better than what I’d come to expect from her music. Haha, just felt like sharing that wit y’all.

Rainie Yang A.K.A. 楊丞琳 - 仰望 [Yang Wang - Looking Up]:

Matthew Good - Pledge of Allegiance

It’s been a while since I posted music by this Canadian artist. This was the opening track from his album Avalanche. For some reason I like that bell action it has goin’ on.
Note: I found one video uploaded in HD, and it was just uploaded! Good timing.
 
Matthew Good - Pledge of Allegiance:

Jean Grae - Kill Screen

Ho-lee shiznit. Welcome to one of the most astounding braggadocio tracks I’ve ever encountered. This hip hop artist’s song is out of this world. You want to hear a crazy good song that contains references to video games, Greek mythology, the Bible, particle physics, and more? If you like putting effort into your entertainment, this is the song for you. I strongly recommend checking out the RapGenius page on this song (here: http://rapgenius.com/Jean-grae-kill-screen-aka-steve-wiebe-lyrics) and clicking on the annotated lyrics (including some lines annotated by Jean Grae herself!) to get a feel for how insanely complex the lyrics of this song are, in terms of content as well as rhyme scheme. It’s no wonder this emcee is considered one of the best in the game.

Jean Grae - Kill Screen:


Here’s the official music video, which I’m not even gonna front like I understand. It’s evidently some kind of puzzle, but I haven’t had time to put the work into figuring it out. Nonetheless, I figured I might as well include in case you have more time to kill (ha!) and think it could be a fun little activity. P.S. Jean Grae made the whole dang video herself.

The Beelzebubs feat. Darren Criss - When I Get You Alone

This was the TV show Glee’s a cappella cover of Robin Thicke’s song of the same name. I personally think the a cappella-ness makes it (and many other songs) sound even cooler than the original! I wasn't sure how to credit the main artist, as the real name of the a cappella group is The Beelzebubs, from Tufts University. However, the name of the fictional a cappella group who performs their songs on the show is The Warblers, and the show releases albums of their music under that name. Confusing! I ultimately decided to go with the names that the artists use independent of the show, since it would be weird to credit the leading vocalist as his character's name, Blaine, and I want to maintain consistency.
Note: You can listen in HD!

The Beelzebubs feat. Darren Criss - When I Get You Alone:


Here’s the scene from the show that used this song:

Julie Maria - Evelyn

I think I found this song and artist by YouTube surfing. It makes me think, “This is what Dido would sound sorta like if she sang in Danish.” Sorta. The video I'm using is the official music video. It seemed like relevant-ish video to post during the Olympics.

Julie Maria - Evelyn:

MUCC - 路地裏 僕と君へ

This was one of the first songs I heard by this Japanese artist, which I think I initially acquired through an mp3 rotation site. It sounds pretty unpolished, but you could argue that that raw sound is, in a way, part of this band's appeal.

MUCC - 路地裏 僕と君へ [Rojiura Boku to Kimi e - The Road to You and Me]:

Zaho - Petit Jeu

This song reminds me so much of R&B from the late 1990s/early 2000s. It’s like early Timbaland all over again.

Zaho - Petit Jeu [Little Game]:

System of a Down - Innervision

I can’t even tell you how much I listened to the three first albums by this artist. Their music has such a distinctive sound, which is what has earned them a place as one of my favorite rock bands. They go to show that just because the vocalists yell in their music doesn’t mean that’s the only thing they can do.
Note: You can listen in HD!

System of a Down - Innervision:

Gabrielle Aplin - Home

Although I heard of this artist by YouTube surfing, I heard this song on Hollyoaks. DANG, it’s pretty! This song can’t get much more perfect, as far as I’m concerned. I think this may have to be the next song I memorize.
Note: HD listening is recommended!

Gabrielle Aplin - Home:

40 - Zodiac

I found this song while YouTube surfing for Korean music, and was surprised by how unique it sounded compared to most of the other music I was coming across. It has a memorable melody and the artist is clearly a talented vocalist, taking what could be an otherwise mundane typical ballad and turning it into a soulful R&B piece. I’m inclined to look up more music by this artist, but unfortunately it seems he’s chosen a pseudonym virtually impossible to search for. You might as well make your stage name “The.”

40 - Zodiac:

Ellie Goulding - Salt Skin

This is one of my favorite songs by this artist. She is getting bigger and bigger in the U.S., which I’m happy to see, but this song is from her first album.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Ellie Goulding - Salt Skin:

Stromae - Tous Les Mêmes

I posted another music video by this Belgian artist not long ago. That one I came across by YouTube surfing, but this music video I saw because it was recently posted by a friend on Facebook. I was pleased to see this artist apparently has a track record of making innovative music videos, as well as songs with less-than-conventional lyrics.
Note: I recommend watching in HD!

Stromae - Tous Les Mêmes [All the Same]:

Lea Salonga - Reflection

This is one of my favorite songs from a Disney movie, and it’s NOT a villain’s song! This artist is very accomplished, but is especially famous for her work singing for lead female characters in Disney movies, as is the case with this song. In case you don’t already know, it’s from Mulan, one of my favorite Disney movies. I knew this singer was of Filipino descent, but always assumed she was American; I didn’t realize she’s actually FROM the Philippines.

Lea Salonga - Reflection:


Here’s what made it into the movie:

Pierrot - 夕闇スーサイド

There's a good chance you've heard this song if you listen to Japanese rock. It seems that a lot of Japanese bands do a great job of fusing rock with jazz (a genre I usually don't care for), and this would be a good example of that. I could swear there was another song by this band I wanted to post, but I can’t for the life of me remember what it was, so instead I’m posting this, the first song I listened to by them (as far as I can recall).

Pierrot - 夕闇スーサイド [Yuuyami Suusaido - Sunset Suicide]:

Yma Sumac - Incacho

I found out about this Peruvian artist through a music column on a blog. This singer had a crazy range, of which you can hear the higher and lower registers in this song, and supposedly she was this good without having had any vocal training.

Yma Sumac - Incacho [Royal Anthem]:

Cosmo Jarvis - Sure as Hell Not Jesus

This music video could be pretty shocking if you’re not accustomed to irreverent humor. If you’re easily offended (or Catholic) you might not want to watch this video, as it criticizes the Catholic church’s tradition of self-preservation, deception, and appalling failure when it comes to addressing its child abuse problem in an effective way.
Note: You can watch in HD!

Cosmo Jarvis - Sure as Hell Not Jesus: 

Younha - 우리가 헤어진 진짜 이유

I appreciate that this artist has a solo career and composes her own music. I only came across her music recently. I’m posting the official music video because it’s got an interesting element to it. It’s nice to see a K-pop MV that features something a little unconventional.
Note: HD listening and viewing available!

Younha A.K.A. 윤하 - 우리가 헤어진 진짜 이유 [Uriga Hae’eojin Jinjja Iyu - The Real Reason Why We Broke Up]:


Here's the official MV:

Bambu - Like Us

I discovered this artist by attending a hip hop show featuring various emcees. I’d never heard of this emcee before, but I was impressed by the content of his songs and bought his album after the show. I don’t regret it a bit. This song addresses the casual, everyday racism that permeates American society and media. There’s profanity, so don’t listen with little’uns around.

Bambu - Like Us:

Tina Dickow - Count to Ten

When I’m surfing YouTube for European artists, this Danish artist comes up a lot. You can hear the singer/songwriterness in her music. If it starts off sounding too basic, just hang in there. I like how it starts off sounding so minimalist and “coffee house” but gains more interesting instrumentation until it becomes quite rich-sounding.

Tina Dickow - Count to Ten:

Louis Garrel & Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet - J’ai Cru Entendre

This is the final song from the French musical film Les Chansons D’Amour. I think it’s my favorite song from the movie, and I especially like the voice of Gregoire in the “crepe au citron” part. Normally when I post songs from movies I try to include a video that shows the scene in which the song is used, but this time I won’t because it’s the last scene of the movie.

Louis Garrel & Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet - J’ai Cru Entendre [I Thought I Heard]:

Beth Hart - L.A. Song

I didn’t include this artist earlier because I had a hard time picking a song by her. I eventually went with this one largely because I happen to have hear it a lot, thanks for my sister’s repeated playing of one of her albums. Her voice is amazing, and this song in particular demonstrates great

 Beth Hart - L.A. Song:

John Legend - Who Did That to You?

When I heard this song in the film Django Unchained, I recognized it as the work of this artist and hunted it down. I suspect this song was made for the film specifically.
Note: HD listening available!

John Legend - Who Did That to You?:

Clean Bandit feat. Kandaka Moore & Nikki Cislyn - A&E

Man, Hollyoaks is on a roll with its music selection. I heard this song in an episode and thought it sounded funky, with its mix of hip hop, R&B, electronic, and other genres.
Note: This is the official music video, with HD!

Clean Bandit feat. Kandaka Moore & Nikki Cislyn - A&E: