Kate Havnevik - Emotional

This artist’s work reminds me so much of Imogen Heap, especially this song from her latest release. Coming from me, that’s a compliment of the highest order. Looooooove. I didn’t know until very recently that this makes total sense, because she developed her sound through working with Guy Sigsworth, the half of Frou Frou that was not Imogen Heap. This song is from her just-released album &i.
Note: HD is recommended as usual!

Kate Havnevik - Emotional:

John Newman - Easy

Time for another song by this artist! His debut album Tribute was extremely listenable and had a decent proportion of catchy Motown/soul-inspired songs, so much so that I had difficulty picking the next song off it to post. I found the songs getting stuck in my head after only a few listens to the album.
Note: Hi definition sound!

John Newman - Easy:

Buika - La Noche Más Larga

This artist, from what I’ve read, is quite ambitious. Her record of the same title as this song was produced by her and full of songs composed by her, and she’s released books of poetry as well. When I was looking for music by her, I found this track. It was easily one of the biggest standouts for me due to its slightly unconventional beauty.
Note: I found it in HD!

 Buika - La Noche Más Larga [The Longest Night]:

Taeyang - 링가 링가

*sigh* Yesss, yes, yes. A popular K-pop song from a member of the popular boy band Big Bang by is my choice for the day. People who follow K-pop probably already know this song, but since I don’t follow K-pop so much as periodically check in, I came across this song only recently through YouTube surfing.
Note: In true K-pop fashion, the official music video is visually stunning AND in hi-def, so I’m using it.

Taeyang - 링가 링가 [Ringga Ringga - Ringa Linga]:


If you want to learn the dance moves, here’s the dance version of the video:

Christian Chávez feat. Agnes Monica - En Donde Estás/Kau Dimana

Why is this song so exciting to me? It’s in Spanish, Indonesian, and English! First, Christian sings in his native language, Spanish, then Agnes sings in her native language, Indonesian, then they SWITCH AND SING EACH OTHER’S LANGUAGES so Agnes sings in Spanish and Christian sings in Indonesian! (And then they both sing in English.) Globalization! The great language exchange! (Also kind of funny to me: both of these artists got their start as soap opera actors in their respective countries, Mexico and Indonesia.)

Christian Chávez feat. Agnes Monica - En Donde Estás/Kau Dimana [Where Are You]:

Eluveitie - Omnos

This artist is Swiss, but the lyrics of this song are in Gaulish. I guess it’s safe to do that when no native speakers are alive to correct you. I’ve heard albums by this artist that could be classified as folk metal, complete with screaming male vocals, but since I like some singing in my songs instead of exclusively screams and growls, this almost metal-less folk song is more my speed. This is also the first song I heard by them.

Eluveitie - Omnos [Fear]:

Daley - Broken

Wow. In the newest installment of androgynous-voiced singers, I present this artist. My first exposure to him was through a song he did with Marsha Ambrosius, I had trouble distinguishing their voices from one another! This is one of his more energetic songs, and reminds me of something Emeli Sandé would make—the others were largely smooth, slow jam R&B songs.

 Daley - Broken:

Marina & the Diamonds - Happy

I’m currently in Wales, the homeland of this artist! I checked out her new album and this opening track was one of the strongest, in my opinion. Part of its appeal is its almost under-produced sound that doesn’t filter her voice, especially as compared with many other songs on the album.
Note: HD quality on demand!

Marina & the Diamonds - Happy:

There for Tomorrow - Hunt Hunt Hunt

I like the lead singer’s voice; it sounds like that of the lead singer of One OK Rock. I think the similarity is undeniable. I normally don’t notice the bass in songs, but this one is an exception.
Note: HD listening, grahhhhhhhh!

There for Tomorrow - Hunt Hunt Hunt:

Transistor - Touch Wood

This Greek artist’s voice sounds slightly Björk-ish in some parts. The lyrics also kind of remind me of her work in that they’re sensical enough to technically follow rules of syntax but nonsensical enough to not really mean anything to me. That makes it good music for multitasking, because I’m not distracted by the lyrics, which are in English.
Note: Fancy HD status!

Transistor - Touch Wood:

Marsel - Время

I found this Russian artist through their more R&B ballad-eqsue music, but I like this song’s reggae/ska feel. In this case, the happy tone works for me. The timing is good for an upbeat song, as it’s my first day of vacation!

Marsel A.K.A. Марсель - Время [Vryemya - Time]:

Sherry Bijan - ایران

Today is the Eve of Nouruz (Persian New Year), so I’m posting a Persian song celebrating Iranian culture! Check out the Iran-ful music video, too.
Note: This official music video has HD!

Sherry Bijan A.K.A. ایران - شری بیژن [Iran]:

Guy Sebastian - Madness

Dude is like a singing machine. It’s unreal how en pointe his singing is. His runs slayyyyyy me. It’s really weird; I knew he gained famed initially through Australian Idol (of which he was the first winner), but didn’t realize until today that he’s released so many albums (7). Evidently he’s a big deal in Australia, and with that much work behind him I find it strange he’s not bigger in the U.S. This song is only from his most recent album, but I think I need to go back and listen to all his previous ones.

Guy Sebastian - Madness:

Mad Soul Child - 숨결

Moody K-pop, me likey. Jinshil's smoky vocals sound nice, too. This song was used for the soundtrack of a movie I never saw, Ten.
Note: Woo, HD!

Mad Soul Child - 숨결 [Sumgyeol - Breath]:

Sean Connery & Janet Munro - My Pretty Irish Girl

This song is from the old Disney movie Darby O’Gill and the Little People. I watched this when I was little, and although I didn’t particularly like the movie the song stuck in my head over the years. Although the characters are Irish, neither of the actors/singers is. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Sean Connery & Janet Munro - My Pretty Irish Girl:


Here are the clips from the movie:

Nils Frahm & Anne Müller - Duktus

It’s experimental classical! Or something. I personality favor the good old-fashioned cello parts of this piece the most, but the total package still sounds pretty good. found this artist collaboration project through sampling music on YouTube.
Note: Found it in HD, just for you!

Nils Frahm & Anne Müller - Duktus:

Ivy Levan - Money

When Adam Lambert recommends an artist, I listen to that artist. I figure if someone can sing that well, he knows what he’s talking about when he says someone else sings well. All the music I’ve heard by her has been almost comically aggressive, but she has such a flagrant style she can get away with it.
Note: This is the official music video, which is entertaining and hi-def, but with violence.

Ivy Levan - Money:

ASongScout - Song from π

Happy Pi Day of the Century! What could be more fitting than this song composed of the numbers of pi? I came across this piece only months ago through a post on Facebook, and that led me to find this much more recent upload in higher quality on YouTube. Mmmm, minor scale.
Note: One of the benefits of this new upload is HD quality!

ASongScout - Song from π:

Jessie Ware - Tough Love

Ooh, that’s some nice, clear head voice. I heard of this artist a number of times before I heard this song on Hollyoaks. It sounds a little bit like 80s music.
Note: HD quality, yo!

Jessie Ware - Tough Love:

Lim Chang Jeong - 문을 여시오

If you liked the music video for "Gangnam Style," there’s a good chance you’ll like this similarly odd Korean music video. It very much seems inspired by the Panda Cheese commercials, at least at the beginning. I found this through a K-pop recommendation video, and after only one viewing/listen the song got stuck in my head. Despite my familiarity with K-pop, I don’t think I’ve heard other music by this artist.
Note: Obviously, this is the official music video, and it has HD!

Lim Chang Jeong A.K.A. 임창정 - 문을 여시오 [Muneul Yeoshio - Open the Door]:


If you've never seen the Panda Cheese commercials, here they are in all their glory:

Roniit - Runaway

While people evidently heard this song through the trailer for the movie The Loft, I heard about the movie in finding this song. I’m liking this dark pop trend.
Note: HD quality, clearly!

Roniit - Runaway:

Jussie Smollett - Good Enough

There’s a new musical show in town, and it’s called Empire. This time it has a hip hop slant, which I’m into, and it uses original music like this song from its soundtrack. The artist acts as the R&B singer of the show and his voice is golllllld. Remember the "Testify" music video from a few posts ago? The series was brought to my attention through comments on the video pointing out that the lead actress in it is also in Empire. (This was interesting because she was practically the only actor in the MV I didn’t recognize from a TV show.) So I looked into the series, and here we are! This song is about a son trying to please his hard-to-impress father, and people be relating to this song left and right. I was surprised to hear this song is getting some radio play, but I guess I shouldn’t be since the show has some major power players backing it and its music. *cough*Timbaland*cough*
Note: Best believe there’s HD!

Jussie Smollett - Good Enough:

Here’s the scene from the show, but it has some disturbing content of child abuse:

Jolin Tsai - Dr. Jolin

This is one of those times I’m sharing a video because of the video, not the song. I knew about this Taiwanese pop star for a long time, but it was only recently that I discovered the utter weirdness of her music videos. Oh. My. God. (Also, I think I read somewhere that the backup dancers in this video are Lady Gaga’s backup dancers too.)
Note: This is the official video with HD quality.

Jolin Tsai A.K.A. 蔡依林 - Dr. Jolin:

Ne-Yo - Miss Independent

Apparently this popular R&B artist (who writes his own music) likes his ladies powerful and in control. That’s a message that’s refreshing to hear. Happy International Women’s Day!

Ne-Yo - Miss Independent:

Aimer - 誰か、海を.

This song was used as the ending theme of the anime Zankyou no Terror, which I think is going to be the next anime I watch, as it came highly recommended by a friend who knows my taste. The same friend sent me the ending theme, and at the very first note this artist sang I was struck by how pretty it is. Her singing style is unconventional for J-pop, especially anime themes, and I absolutely love it, from the breathy delivery to the soft vibrato. As the song went on, I fell more and more in love. Even the singer’s vocals aside, this track is lovely and unconventional, so I suppose it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that it’s composed by the great Yoko Kanno.
Note: HD recommended!

Aimer - 誰か、海を. [Dareka, Umi wo. - Someone, Give Me the Sea.]:

John Paul White - Can't Get It Out of My Head

I’m not sure how I came across this song, although it was sometime within the past year. This artist was one half of The Civil Wars. He reps Alabama. For me, what really makes the song is the strings.

John Paul White - Can't Get It Out of My Head:

Echosmith - Cool Kids

This is a current radio single that probably doesn’t need my help boosting its popularity, but whatever. I like its mildly unconventional theme—unconventional although probably relatable to many. Hurray for it being on the radio! I didn’t realize until today that the artist is a band consisting of all siblings.
Note: HD quality!

Echosmith - Cool Kids:

Common - Testify

Music videos be getting ambitious! As of last night, I finished watching all available episodes of the new series How to Get Away with Murder. It’s excellent, and this music video I recently discovered is highly relevant. It would fit in well with the TV show, both in storyline and presentation, so in honor of that I’m posting it today!

Common - Testify:

Sofia Karlberg - Crazy in Love

This is a pretty cool cover of Beyoncé’s first hit as a solo artist. The video looks like a regular, unfancy, made-at-home video of a talented YouTube cover artist, but this seems to have gained some mainstream legitimacy because evidently this song was used in the trailer for the movie 50 Shades of Grey. It definitely sounds like professional quality!
Note: HD quality is available!

Sofia Karlberg - Crazy in Love:

Darren Hayes - Ride

Here’s a lesser-known song by the Savage Garden frontman; I don't think it was released on any of his albums. I think it's really catchy. His voice reminds me of MJ a lot in some parts of this song, and this is probably intentional as the artist lists the King of Pop among his biggest musical influences.
Note: HD quality!

Darren Hayes - Ride:

Lady Gaga - The Sound of Music Medley

In case you missed it, this uber-famous pop artist KILLED it at the Oscar Awards last weekend. I was happy to see that, because, although I’m not a huge fan of hers in general, I always feel the need to defend her against the anti-fans who assume she lacks talent based on the facts that she primarily makes mainstream pop music and is immensely popular. However, she composes her own music and that of others, writes her own lyrics (however weird they may be), can play the piano, and sings like a mofo—as this performance proved once and for all to even those who wouldn’t go out of their way to hear her sing classically.
Note: The visual-to-audio synch on this video is WAY off, but at least it has HD!

Lady Gaga - The Sound of Music Medley: