Han Hong - 天路

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to post another song by this Tibetan artist! She has one of my favorite voices, and this is one of her most famous songs. She specializes in folk/traditional Chinese music like this. Wait until the end for the REALLY Tibetan vocalizing kicks in. I don’t have much true party music waiting in the wings for the occasion, but a song of such epic scale seems somewhat befitting of the New Year. Happy New Year!
Note: HD option is recommended!

Han Hong A.K.A. 韩红 - 天路 [Tian Lu - Road to Heaven]:

Gary Cao - 世界唯一的你

This R&B artist, who is from Malaysia but writes his songs in Mandarin because his career is based out of Taiwan, writes his own music (as well as that of other artists). I HAVE to post this song of his because not only is it his single that really boosted his career, but he wrote this song for his CAT. That is awesome. The story goes that after struggling with music industry rejection, depression, alcoholism, and a number of suicide attempts, he came across a stray cat that he decided to adopt as his own, and after writing this song for the cat his career and life took a turn for the better.

Gary Cao A.K.A. 曹格 - 世界唯一的你 [Shi Jie Wei Yi De Ni - The World’s Only You]:

Angel Taylor - What’s Comin’ to Yah

I first encountered this artist recently when my friend was playing a trance-ish song that featured her vocals. I guess he was as impressed by her singing as I was, because he asked me to find out who the singer was for him. Because there have been so many British artists lately with rich, soulful voices like hers, I guessed that she was British as well… but I was WRONG! She’s American. Her songs themselves don’t strike me as particularly distinctive, but her voice is a winner.

Angel Taylor - What’s Comin’ to Yah:

Clemens feat. Engelina - Har Du Noget At Sige

I have an inexplicable liking for this song. As far as the lyrical meaning goes, it’s the typical “Hey, girl, lemme holla atcha! I’m gonna make you my woman!” message. The main draw for me, as a non-Danish-speaker, is the beat, and the low-energy delivery works for it. It’s so laidback as to almost be hypnotic.
Note: HD quality is available!

 Clemens feat. Engelina - Har Du Noget At Sige [Have You Got Something to Say]:

Gabriela Robin - Green Bird

This artist’s background and identity are somewhat shrouded in mystery, but rumor has it this singer and the song’s composer, Yoko Kanno, are one and the same. This song was used near the end of the famous anime series Cowboy Bebop, and is so much a part of the scene in which it was used that when I hear the song by itself I get images in my mind of the moment in the show. Considering the church setting of the scene, the angelic, choir-like quality to the song is no coincidence.

 Gabriela Robin - Green Bird:

Celldweller - End of an Empire

Man, this sounds good. This artist created a record label, FiXT, under which he signed the artist I posted somewhat recently, Blue Stahli. Their music clearly belongs to the same category, but I heard of this artist many years earlier.
Note: HD listening recommended for full effect!

Celldweller - End of an Empire:

Lea Michele - O Holy Night

Speaking of things I never thought I’d post… This artist usually is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Most of the time her singing on the musical show Glee is painful for me to listen to. However, this was one of the few moments I enjoyed it, and my friends who felt similarly toward her said the same thing about this cover. For once, she doesn’t whine or overenunciate as much, and there’s a power to her voice that makes it work. So I’ll forgive the context of the song for not making any sense given the character’s background. It’s Christmasssssssssss, so here’s a Christmas song! I didn’t even realize this belonged to the class of Christmas songs I liked until I heard it covered a few times within the past couple years. Or maybe it just grew on me. Either way, it sounds nice to me now.
Note: HD quality ahoy!

Lea Michele - O Holy Night:


Here’s the scene from the show in which the song appears:

Alex Boyé feat. One Voice Children’s Choir - Let It Go

I swear, I had no intention of posting this overplayed song from the immensely popular Disney movie Frozen. I watched it a month or two ago and liked it, but dang, everyone, chill out on the song. (No pun intended.) But I came across this “Africanized” cover and had to share it--I’m a sucker for African-style choirs, plus that little girl can actually sing!
Note: You can listen AND watch in HD!

Alex Boyé feat. One Voice Children’s Choir - Let It Go:

Eisblume - Zeit Zu Gehen

Icey music for a chilly season! The artist’s very name is wintery (as it means “iceflower”), and the content of their music doesn’t stray far from that theme. Many of their songs, including this one, at least make reference to winter or ice.

Eisblume - Zeit Zu Gehen [Time to Go]:

Ed Sheeran - I’m a Mess

This artist (along with Sam Smith) is kind of the reigning king of British pop music right now, and with good reason. Funnily enough, my friend only found out about him this morning. He told me there was a song sample he was dying to know the original artist of, and when he played the sample for me I recognized the voice as this guy’s. It wasn’t this song, but this was among my favorites from his most recent album. For me, this song really pays off at the clapping part.
Note: Thanks unto the uploader for HD!

Ed Sheeran - I’m a Mess:

Brown Eyed Girls - Kill Bill

Wowwwwwww, SOMEBODY was a fan of the movie Kill Bill. As the song’s title suggests, the music video is themed after the Quentin Tarantino movie, but in such an over-the-top way I was laughing. It even incorporates multiple songs from the movie’s soundtrack! Like the movie on which it’s based, there’s ample violence, to the point that it’s a bit surprising for a K-pop video.
Note: This is the official music video (because it’s the point, more so than the song) and it has HD!

Brown Eyed Girls - Kill Bill:

TM Bax - Tahroon-Male-Mast

Irani party music! It’s repping their (presumably) hometown of Tehran, like with American hip hop city anthems. Weirdly enough, today there are three songs I was considering posting, and all three are non-English hip hop songs from countries I rarely post music from. I ultimately went with this one, because although I heard it recently it was the one I heard first.

TM Bax - Tahroon-Male-Mast [Tehran’s Ours]:

Miranda Sex Garden - Cover My Face

I’ve been watching the American TV series The Following, and this song was used in an episode I watched recently. I like that clear, high voice and of course that gothicky style doesn’t hurt either.
Note: HD quality is here!

Miranda Sex Garden - Cover My Face:

Conor Maynard - Use Somebody

I’ve been posting some unusually long tracks lately, so to balance it out a bit here’s an unusually short one. In an age where music artists are self-selecting and brought to fame by actual popularity rather than whatever record labels force on audiences, I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise that artists like this one self-promoted via YouTube and ended up getting mainstream TV airtime. I don’t remember what show it was in, but this is a cover of the song by Kings of Leon.

Conor Maynard - Use Somebody:

Luxuslärm feat. Culcha Candela - Mehr Gewicht

I guess it’s about time I put something bouncier up. At first this song sounds like Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” but then it’s not. In fact, this song’s urging women to NOT lose themselves—that is, to not starve themselves for the sake of beauty. It criticizes societal glorification of overly skinny bodies and encourages people to not be so self-conscious about their weight so they can enjoy life.
Note: This is the official music video, with HD!

Luxuslärm feat. Culcha Candela - Mehr Gewicht [More Weight]:

PackFM - Happy Days

This song casts a cynical eye on the celebratory attitude people showed after the election of Obama, arguing that the victory was more symbolic than a true move of progress. The lyrics also rail against the widespread fascination with frivolous news and activities that serve as little more than distractions from acknowledging the true state of the world. “You may think that I’m complaining, but at least I ain’t complacent.” This song ain't for the kids, as there's quite a bit of profanity and such.

PackFM - Happy Days:

Sydney Wayser - Belfast Child

I heard this song when I was looking for music from the soundtrack of the recent movie Exodus: Gods and Kings. It’s a cover of a song by Simple Minds. It has a haunting quality that suits its unfortunate subject matter. Despite the song being about acts of terrorism in Northern Ireland, the artist is American.
Note: HD quality!

Sydney Wayser - Belfast Child:

Mindless Self Indulgence - Kill You All in a Hip Hop Rage

I think the lyrics of this are meant to be tongue-in-cheek, and are mocking the oft-spoken idea that hip hop used to be good and now it’s horrible. It makes reference to all the violence that plagued older hip hop, indicating that older hip hop isn’t as idyllic as many make it out to be and suggesting the nostalgia may be misplaced. It also gestures to the admittedly bizarre tendency of hip hop fans to engage in speculative appeal to authority through idol worship of hip hop martyrs. Unsurprisingly, there’s profanity and violence...
Note: HD quality for this short track!

Mindless Self Indulgence - Kill You All in a Hip Hop Rage:

Wrathschild - Angeles

Now I’m thinking Simon Curtis’s idea to team up with the female singer is well-advised. He sounded good by himself, but when his voice is paired with the Wolfy’s it makes a nice blend! Obviously, this song is about Los Angeles, the good and the bad.
Note: HD quality is available!


Wrathschild - Angeles:

Lisa Fischer - How Can I Ease the Pain

Evidently this song was a hit back in 1991, but I wasn’t familiar with it until a few days ago when I watched the documentary 20 Feet from Stardom. This artist has done a lot of work as a backup singer and one of the primary points of the documentary film was that backup singers have plenty of potential and are often just as good as (if not better than) leading vocalists. This song was used to illustrate that point, and I think it served its purpose well.
Note: Even though it’s oldish, this upload has HD!

Lisa Fischer - How Can I Ease the Pain:




Here’s the live performance that demonstrates some serious singing talent and skill:

Maximum the Hormone - Maximum the Hormone

I’m long overdue for a post of a song by this artist. I was “craving” the manic energy this Japanese band always brings, but it’s actually the quiet parts of this song that hooked me. It of course also fulfills the weirdness quota I’ve come to expect from them with more unconventional elements like the chanting. I find it kind of funny that well into the band’s career they made a song with the same name as themselves.

 Maximum the Hormone - Maximum the Hormone:

Eyes Set to Kill - Infected

I was on a hunt to find music of this general genre, and came across a recommendation for this artist. It’s a little weird I hadn’t listened to them before (that I know of) because they’ve been around since 2006. This song was only my introduction to them, and I definitely plan to look into more music by them.
Note: Another official video of sorts, also in HD!

Eyes Set to Kill - Infected:

Blue Stahli - Ready Aim Fire

I noticed that when I feel down, angry music genuinely makes me feel better. It’s like it channels my negative feelings that are dragging me down into energy, so that instead of wallowing I feel motivated. It pulls me out of the rut of a downtrodden, lethargic attitude by converting it into power, so this song is just what the doctor ordered.
Note: This is the official lyrics video, and it has HD!

Blue Stahli - Ready Aim Fire:

Rene - Снегом

Here’s a little Russian soulfulness. I bring you winter-themed music for the season! It’s not my favorite song ever, but the danciness isn’t overwhelming.
Note: This is the official MV, and it has HD.

Rene - Снегом [Snyegom - Snow]:

The Black Keys - In Time

Although I’d heard of this artist many times, I didn’t look up their music specifically—or if I did I didn’t find it memorable. However, the British series Hollyoaks used this song and I found it compelling enough to look into. I guess this from their new album and has a different sound from their previous work, so maybe I really did hear their music before and it just didn’t strike my fancy.
Note: HD quality can be found here!

The Black Keys - In Time:

25Band - ی باده خنک

I just came back from seeing the movie Rosewater, and this song was the ending credit theme. As soon as A-Del started singing I knew it was a winner. I really like something about her voice. It’s smooth, and simultaneously sounds effortless yet controlled. It also kinda reminds me of the voice of a Korean singer I can’t put my finger on at the moment.
Note: I’m pleased to have found this in HD!

25Band - ی باده خنک [Ye Baade Khonak - The Wine Cooler]:

Hidetake Takayama - Believe ft. Amanda Silvera & Matt Brevner

This song is comprised of some nice-sounding elements, but I kind of get the feeling this song doesn’t know what it wants to be. Part of the time it sounds like contemporary hip hop mixed with R&B, and part of the time it sounds like the ending credits of an inspiring Christmas-themed Disney made-for-TV movie. And that’s OK; I accept it. There’s a little profanity.
Note: HD!

Hidetake Takayama - Believe ft. Amanda Silvera & Matt Brevner:

Jolin Tsai - Play我呸

I’ve never been into this artist, but OMG, I think I love this music video… My friend has been a fan of hers for years and I never understood why. Now I’m starting to get it. This music video entertained me, the song is actually pretty catchy, and the lyrics (I believe) mock the superficiality and materialism of society.
Note: This is the official MV, and it’s in HD!

Jolin Tsai A.K.A. 蔡依林 - Play我呸 [Play Wo Pei - Play I "Bah"]:

The Neighbourhood feat. Raury - Warm

If you’re a fan of Banks, The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, or trip hop, peep this artist’s mixtape! It's free! If you look this artist up they’re classified as a rock band, but when I listened to their just-released mixtape (which is a very hip hop thing to have) the music was clearly in the range of trip hop, hip hop, and contemporary R&B.
Note: Take advantage of the HD!

The Neighbourhood feat. Raury - Warm:

A Fine Frenzy - Pinesong

The other night I walked home in the POURING rain while listening to this and it was a suitable soundtrack. It’s moody, but doesn’t ring with melancholy as much as other songs it reminded me of. I like the different phases it goes through, and especially at this length of song the variation comes as a welcome attribute.
Note: HD listening is recommended!

A Fine Frenzy - Pinesong:

Pentatonix - Run to You

When I finally got around to listening to complete albums by this artist, I was thrown by this song in particular. I couldn’t identify the song it was covering, but I thought it was magnificent. Then I started to suspect that it was an original of this group’s, and it turns out that was right! I like how none of the members really sings lead on this (although I admit the voices I hear most clearly throughout most of the song are Mitch’s and Avi’s)—it truly is an ensemble arrangement.
Note: Naturally, HD listening is preferable.

Pentatonix - Run to You: