Atsushi Sakurai - Sacrifice

For some reason I thought I already posted this artist’s solo work, but I guess I haven’t. I adore this artist’s voice as it currently sounds, and I’ve already posted music by the band he does lead vocals for, Buck-Tick. They’ve been around since the 80s, but I prefer their newer music and Atsushi’s solo music because I think over time his voice has gotten richer and more controlled. He’s far into his music career and still going at it by working on a number of projects, including this one.

Atsushi Sakurai A.K.A. 櫻井敦司 - Sacrifice:

Pati Sokół - Woman’s Work

I stumbled upon this lovely cover song and its equally lovely music video while using YouTube’s trusty “recommended videos margin” feature, only a matter of days after it was released. I didn’t know of this Polish artist before, but I did know of Kate Bush, the song’s original artist.
Note: When I came across this song at first there were HD versions uploaded, but evidently they’re all gone now… LAME.

Pati Sokół - Woman’s Work:

Sneaker Pimps - Kiro TV

‘Tis another song by this British artist! I really like the whole album this song is from, Bloodsport, and this song kicked off the album in such a way that I knew it was going to be good. The lyrics are about Kurt Cobain and the inability to cope with fame.

Sneaker Pimps - Kiro TV:

Eugene - 폭풍의 언덕

This Korean artist used to be in the girl group S.E.S. but released two albums as a solo artist. This song is from second one, which I acquired back in the day when I was collecting Korean albums.

Eugene A.K.A. 김유진 - 폭풍의 언덕 [P’okp’ungeui Eondeok - Wuthering Heights]:
 

Nasri - It's Not Just You

This Canadian artist has written a number of songs for big-time music stars, but evidently the dude can sing so he’s got his own work now. Just thought I’d put some of it out there.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Nasri - It's Not Just You:

Florence + the Machine - Leave My Body

I was reminded of the magic of this artist (who, despite the name that suggests otherwise, is a solo artist) when a lovely song of hers was covered in a recent episode of the TV show Glee, and again a day later when this breathtaking song was used in an episode of the British soap Hollyoaks.

Florence + the Machine - Leave My Body:

Kyo - Pardonné

This is probably the first French artist I went out of my way to listen to. I heard them through an mp3 rotation site.
Note: HD, ya’ll!

Kyo - Pardonné [Forgiven]:

Angus & Julia Stone - All of Me

I keep hearing this artist’s music popping up in random places. I think the first time I noticed their music was when a song of theirs was used in a dance piece on the dance competition show So You Think You Can Dance.

Angus & Julia Stone - All of Me:

Ungu feat. Iis Dahlia - Hampa Hatiku

I came across this band while searching for more Indonesian artists to add to my collection.  Noyce!

Ungu feat. Iis Dahlia - Hampa Hatiku [Hollow Heart]:

Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise You)

OK, so I’m evidently REALLY slow… At first I thought this song was praising some guy to the point of servitude. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize it’s meant to be praising God. Which not only makes more sense, but also offends my feminist senses a lot less. I heard this song on a compilation album someone burned for me.

Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise You):

David Deyl - Akorát

I’m not actually that crazy about this artist. OK, so I just wanted to post Czech music. I think I found this guy by YouTube surfing.

David Deyl - Akorát [I Just]:

Yoko Kanno feat. Ilaria Graziano - Pearls

Mon Dieu, I looooooove this song. I heard it during a screening of the Cowboy Bebop video game at Fanime Con and loved it instantly, so I made a note of it to look it up later. After a bit of searching I eventually found it and made it the only Italian song whose lyrics I have memorized. This is one of my favorite songs to sing!

Yoko Kanno A.K.A. 菅野 よう子 feat. Ilaria Graziano - Pearls:

Godsmack - Awake

I remember years ago my friend who was a fan of this band recommended their music to me, but warned me that I might not like it because I might find the vocals "scary." Can you feel my eyes rolling? Anyway, this song was on my self-made CD compilation of various hard rock/metal songs I listened to in middle school.

Godsmack - Awake:

12 Girls Band - 茉莉花

My assigned Chinese name is the same as the first part of this song’s name, so when I’ve told people my Chinese name they would start singing this very famous Chinese folk song to me. I learned it first when part of it was used in a Gary Cao song, and have heard it numerous times since, although I hear it’s banned in China now because of its association with the Jasmine Revolution. *rolls eyes* Anyway, this is a modern version performed with traditional instruments by this popular cover artist.
Note: Watch/listen in HD!

12 Girls Band A.K.A. 女子十二楽坊 - 茉莉花 [Mo Li Hua - Jasmine Flower]:

Shane Mack - Lie to Me

The genre isn’t what I typically listen to, but I think this artist's voice is pretty. I would consider this country artist’s voice to be androgynous since, when I heard his songs used throughout the American movie Shelter, I thought the singer was female. Upon looking into the artist, though, I discovered this was not the case. He sounds to me like a cross between Jason Mraz and Tracy Chapman.

Shane Mack - Lie to Me:

Elvira T - Всё Решено

I came across this artist while YouTube surfing recently. Man, what’s with Russia and the emo-sounding music lately? Not that I’m complaining.

Elvira T - Всё Решено [Vsyo Ryeshyeno - All Resolved]:

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Shamas-ud-doha, Badar-ud-doja!

I learned of this artist years ago when my dad was playing radio stations on his TV, and a song by this artist popped up. I thought it was beautiful, and my dad’s then-GF informed me that the artist was a very prominent Pakistani singer. He is widely considered to be the most important singer of the qawwali genre ever.
Note: I tried to find the title of the song in the original text, but couldn’t confirm it so I’m just gonna keep the romanized version rather than risk getting it wrong on my own guess.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan A.K.A. نصرت فتح علی خان  - Shamas-ud-doha, Badar-ud-doja!:

Nneka - Soul is Heavy

I found out about this Germany-based Nigerian artist through a music column on a blog, and liked the few songs I heard, but wasn’t eager to post any of them. Later, I was listening to a hip hop mixtape and found myself loving this song on it, only to discover afterward it was the same artist!
Note: This is the official music video, and it’s in HD.

Nneka - Soul is Heavy:

Brett Anderson - Hymn

This artist is British, but I heard this song in a German soap opera...  >_<  That’s some beautiful ish, man.

Brett Anderson - Hymn:

Melanie Fiona - It Kills Me

OMGGGG that voice! I discovered this artist when she was the featured singer on another artist’s track and was entranced by her awesome voice.

Melanie Fiona - It Kills Me:

Entwine - Still Remain

My housemate recommended this Finnish artist to me. This band sounds pretty good! Not much more to say.

Entwine - Still Remain:

Shannon LaBrie - Calls Me Home

I only recently came across this song, probably through a fanvideo or something. I thought the song was pretty enough for me to make a note of it, although I’d not heard of this artist before. Her voice is lovely, and it reminds me a lot of Maria Mena’s voice.
Note: Listen in HD!

Shannon LaBrie - Calls Me Home:

Dave Porter - Breaking Bad Theme

I came across the full version of the opening theme song of the brilliant TV series Breaking Bad on Tumblr. Before, I had only heard the version on the show, which lasts only a few seconds, but this full version sounds even cooler!
Note: Available in super hi-def!

Dave Porter - Breaking Bad Theme:

Garbage - Androgyny

As a fan of androgyny, I am fond of this song. I believe I acquired this song years ago through an mp3 rotation site. So catchy!
Note:  The video has an Italian translation of the lyrics.

Garbage - Androgyny:

Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram - Somewhere Out There

You can file this under “songs from movies I watched in childhood that I remembered clearly throughout life despite forgetting the movie plot.” Neither of the official versions of this song (the one from the film diegesis, and the film ending theme—this one being the latter) have singing that I like, but I always thought the melody itself is so pretty.  I didn't really know who either vocalist was before looking them up for this post, but evidently Linda Ronstadt is a country singer, and James Ingram is a soul singer, so it's kind of an interesting collaboration.

Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram - Somewhere Out There:

Serj Tankian - Borders Are

I guess the political themes become even more transparent in the solo work of System of a Down’s frontman. The premise of the song seems to be that national borders are false divisions between people and are manipulated and maintained by the powerful few to their own ends. (Notice that the border between the U.S. and Mexico is the last to go.)
Note: The official music video is simple but effective, and lends itself to the songs's meaning, so I’m including it.

Serj Tankian - Borders Are:

Maria Gadú - Sonhos Roubados

Finally I have a Brazilian song!  The genre of music this artist makes isn't my favorite, but I REALLY like her voice. At this point I’m not sure, but I think I found her through a music recommendation thread on a website.

Maria Gadú - Sonhos Roubados [Stolen Dreams]:

Bloodgroup - My Arms

Not crazy about the vocals, but I quite like the instrumentation component of this track I found while YouTube surfing for music.

Bloodgroup - My Arms:

Muhsinah - One

This doesn’t sound far off from the kind of music that plays on the radio constantly, but less autotuned and obnoxious.

Muhsinah - One:

Basim - Nok Af Dig

Niiiiiiice R&B voice. I discovered this Danish artist while cruisin’ the Tubes of You. I came across a music video of his first and thought he looked really young, so I looked up his bio and found out he was only 15 when he became known for competing on the TV show X Factor, and is only 19 now.

Basim - Nok Af Dig [Enough of You]:

Ofrin - Dry

This is interesting. I’m not sure how to feel about it, but it’s interesting. It’s kind of a weird collection of sounds. I came across this Israeli/German artist by YouTube surfing.
Note: Yet another song in HD!

Ofrin - Dry:

Brother Ali - Rain Water

This is just one of the many excellent songs by this very talented hip hop artist. This track is about various struggles in life and how we all just have to get through them. It has profanity.
Note: Yessssss, found in HD!

Brother Ali - Rain Water:

Kaitlyn K. - Who Do U Think U R?

I don’t normally do these posts, but this was so awesome I had to share it. The student body at Cypress Ranch High School in Texas contributed to an anti-bullying campaign with this music video they made, which was almost all shot in the same take and involves the participation of tons of students and clubs and must have required a ridiculous amount of coordination. The song was written and performed by a student of the school, too. The way they filmed this is so impressive and I think they did such a great job!
Note:  Watch it in HD!

Kaitlyn K. - Who Do U Think U R?:

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Main Theme

I never owned video games so I never played Final Fantasy, but when I saw the trailers for the video game-based movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, I FREAKED OUT. The animation was so gorgeous I knew I had to have it. Contributing to the visual beauty of the animation was the aural beauty of this freakin’ song, which was also featured in the trailer. It drove me to acquire the sheet music to it and practice it frequently even though I never got good at playing it.
Note: Listen in hi def!

Nobuo Uematsu A.K.A. 植松 伸夫 - Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Main Theme:

Clare Maguire - Last Dance

My friend sent me this song by this artist, though I came across her and this song before that somehow I can't recall. I like the strength in her voice. Supposedly this song is about Michael Jackson.
Note: Listen in HD!

Clare Maguire - Last Dance:

Huang Yida - 臭男人

I think I discovered this Singaporean artist through an mp3 rotation site, but later paid more attention to his music when my friend showed a music video of his to me. (Funnily enough, that friend reminds me a lot of him in a number of ways, even though she’s a girl. Other people have noted their uncanny similarities as well!) This song was the opening theme for the Taiwanese drama series Devil Beside You, which I never saw. This song is just cool.
Note: The video has a picture that doesn’t seem to fit the song (it’s from the drama), but at least it’s in HD!

Huang Yida A.K.A. 黃義達 - 臭男人 [Chou Nan Ren - Jerk]:

Soumia - Quand Tu N'es Pas Là

I found this artist while searching for French music artists. I don’t believe this was the song I found first, but when I looked for more of her music as follow-up I especially liked it.
Note: There’s a hi-def option!

Soumia - Quand Tu N'es Pas Là [When You’re Not Here]:

Declan Bennett - 15 Minutes

This artist’s very audible British dialect entertains me. :D I found out about this artist through an article on a website, I think sometime within the past year. He has some nice downbeat songs, but I opted for a more upbeat one this time; I especially like how fast he recites the lyrics in the beginning.

Declan Bennett - 15 Minutes:

Bana - Half Pain

I heard this song while watching the anime series Witch Hunter Robin, as it’s the ending theme. This is one of my favorite anime theme songs. I also like the visuals for the ending credits, which fortunately are displayed in this video.
Note: The video has HD AND a loose English translation of the lyrics!

Bana - Half Pain:

AFI - Prelude 12/21

I’ve known of this artist for a long time, though I never really got into their music. I heard this song much more recently, though, and thought it sounded cool despite its shortness. I think my friend sent me this song last year because he thought I’d like it.

AFI - Prelude 12/21:

VV Brown - Shark in the Water

I came across this British artist while YouTube surfing. Wikipedia said this song charted in the U.S., but I don’t think I ever heard it before my YouTube discovery of it.
Note: HD quality!

VV Brown - Shark in the Water:

Kasper Nyemann - Hvor Blev Du Af

Boy got a voice on him. I came across this artist while looking for Danish music some matter of months ago. I’ve listened to a handful of songs by this guy, and they generally sound like they were self-recorded in someone’s basement with a basic synthesizer or something (sound mixing issue?), but the audible unpolished nature of his songs lends credibility to his vocal talent, as it seems unlikely to be digitally enhanced.

Kasper Nyemann - Hvor Blev Du Af [Where Were You]:

Sarah Brightman - Deliver Me

‘Tis another song by this renowned artist. Even though I’ve known of this artist since I was little because my mother is a fan and has an album by her, I think I heard this song through an AMV or something.
Note: HD!

Sarah Brightman - Deliver Me:

Vidoll - IIDK

Ya know I gots ta post this for the celloness. I probably found out about this artist years ago from an mp3 rotation site or something, and I acquired this song that way too.

Vidoll - IIDK:

Fit for Rivals - Crash

I found this artist and song through a music recommendation thread on a message board. Believe it or not, the lead singer is a woman. The fact that this singer at first listen sounds like a dude but is actually female is… quite appealing to me. XD
Note:  Listen in HD!

Fit for Rivals - Crash:

Enrique Iglesias feat. Juan Luis Guerra - Cuando me Enamoro

I heard this song by these popular Spanish and Dominican artists in a live performance on YouTube. The main artist is immensely famous internationally, and I realized when I looked up the featured artist that I’d heard his music before too, because a former housemate of mine had sent me a song by him.
Note: Enjoy it in HD! Bonus: The video has an English translation of the lyrics!

Enrique Iglesias feat. Juan Luis Guerra - Cuando me Enamoro [When I Fall in Love]:

The Cranberries - Zombie

I knew of this artist’s existence since I was pretty young, but I heard this song much later through an AMV. I know, sad. Anyway, this song is a condemnation of the violence resulting from the conflicts over Irish independence.

The Cranberries - Zombie:

Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta Get Thru This

Around 10 years ago, this song used to be on the radio a lot, and although I’ve never been much into dance music, this track was positively addictive and never got old. This artist is, BTW, the brother of the singer Natasha Bedingfield.
Note: HD listening is available!

Devics - The Man I Love

I just came across this song a week or two ago on YouTube. This is jazzier than my taste usually allows, but I like the piano line in this.

Devics - The Man I Love:

Buck-Tick - Ghost

I think it’s high time for another Buck-Tick song! This one I heard after I bought their Kyokutou I Love You album. It just sounds… so cool! I especially love Atsushi Sakurai’s voice.

Buck-Tick - Ghost:

Akua Naru - The Journey...

As soon as the beat dropped I was like, "WOW." And it was all love from there on out. This is probably the most feminist hip hop song--maybe even song of any genre--I've ever heard. It discusses the ongoing oppression of black women in American society and is remarkably insightful. This seems especially apt with all the rhetoric surrounding women’s rights in U.S. politics lately. There is some profanity.
Note: The video includes another track at the end, Nag Champa. It’s also in HD!

Akua Naru - The Journey...:

Era feat. Rasha Rizk - Reborn

I like the combination of styles in this song. It’s got it all! Arabic vocalizing! Latin incantations! Electric guitar! Violins! Bass! This artist’s music essentially sounds like a film soundtrack, but there’s no film. I think this is the first song I heard by this artist, and even after listening to the whole album it’s on, it’s still my favorite.

Era feat. Rasha Rizk A.K.A. رشا رزق - Reborn:

Brandi Carlile - The Story

Whoa. The song starts off so softly & prettily... and then it gets really intense! I haven't heard much music by this singer/songwriter, though I've heard her name many times, but she has a really good voice. I never bothered to look up her music until I heard this song used on that German soap I followed, which motivated me to acquire this song.

Brandi Carlile - The Story:

Brian Crain - Dream of Flying

I just came across this song a few days ago while YouTube surfing for music and thought it was really nice. Enjoy!
Note: Better yet, enjoy it in HD!

Brian Crain - Dream of Flying:

Christina Milian - AM to PM

OMG, remember this song?!?! I totally do.

Christina Milian - AM to PM:

Matthew Good Band - Running for Home

I’ve already posted a song that’s the solo work of the lead singer of this band. After hearing his solo work, I picked up the album by this Canadian band, and thought this song was especially pretty.

Matthew Good Band - Running for Home:

Mai Fukui - Can Can

This artist has been referred to as the "female Miyavi," which, after seeing the MV for this song, I totally get. Which might be why the video made me feel about as immediately smitten with her as I was with Miyavi. Eeeeeeeee!

Mai Fukui A.K.A. ふくい 舞 - Can Can:


You can watch the music video that hooked me here:
http://tu.tv/videos/mai-fukui-can-can

P.O.D. - Youth of the Nation

This is about a school shooting, suicide, and other depressing teen-related issues, so… don’t listen if that bothers you. It’s sad, but not graphic. I think this song was on some compilation album I had when I was young. Either that or someone sent me this song, I’m not sure.
Note: HD available!

P.O.D. - Youth of the Nation:

Lena Park - Plastic Flower

I probably came across this artist years ago through an mp3 rotation site, but I don’t distinctly remember. I have heard her music over the years, but I came across this song only the other day.
Note: The video has the lyrics transliterated AND translated into English, plus it’s in HD. I think it’s kinda funny how epic-sounding the song is, but how trivial the subject matter of the lyrics is.

Lena Park A.K.A. 박정현 - Plastic Flower:

We Are Smug - Sh** on the Radio

Obviously, this track has a bit o' swearing. This is probably my favorite track from Darren Hayes’s experimental side project with Robert Conley known as We Are Smug. The collaboration project wasn’t very popular among Darren Hayes/Savage Garden fans because it doesn’t sound like their other music, but it’s not supposed to, and I quite liked a lot of it. This song is best listened to closely with headphones, because it allows to you to hear all the different voices layered on top of one another in different registers. It makes me chuckle. Although the project has shared vocals, in this track all vocals are by the amazingly talented singer (and songwriter) Darren Hayes. I love how he has command of all those different registers. Obviously, this song is complaining about the quality of popular music. (Hear, hear!)

We Are Smug - Sh** on the Radio:

Mammút - Dýradóttir

I found this Icelandic artist through a music recommendation post on a language blog. I listened to a number of their tracks, and most of them sounded somewhat rockish, but this piano-based one struck me as particularly nice.

Mammút - Dýradóttir [Animal Daughter]:

Thriving Ivory - Flowers for a Ghost

I found this song through a fanvideo. I think it’s pwetttttty. I like how the singer uses his voice.
Note: Listen in HD!

Thriving Ivory - Flowers for a Ghost:

Ah Sang - 葉子

This pretty little song is the theme of the Taiwanese drama The Rose. In high school my friend showed me its music video because it featured the unintentionally funny “dramatic” sequence of a guy getting hit by a car. That of course was humorous, but I really did like the song and it wouldn’t get out of my head, so I memorized it.
HOLY SHIZNIT, I just found out this singer passed away a few years ago due to breast cancer! R.I.P. Ah Sang.

Ah Sang A.K.A. 阿桑 - 葉子 [Ye Zi – Leaves]:

Pendulum - Witchcraft

I heard this song through a Canaan AMV last year. It sounds cool! That’s it.

Pendulum - Witchcraft:

Sarah Jaffe - Better Than Nothing

The cellos in this artist’s music drive me mad (in a good way). I also like the vocal range she demonstrates in this song. I honestly don't remember how I found her, but I suspect it was through random YouTube surfing.
Note: Hi-def time!

Sarah Jaffe - Better Than Nothing:

The Perceptionists feat. Shock G - Career Finders

This is a clever hip hop song that mocks conventions of hip hop and rap genres (the gangster rap track, the hustler track, the braggadocio track) that these artists clearly find worth mocking, suggesting that such themes have no place in rap, at least not to the extent to which they are addressed. I liked this song so much that, years ago, when no trace of the lyrics transcription could be found on the world wide web, I transcribed them myself. This required me to listen to the song a copious amount of times, but I still didn’t get sick of it.  There is some profanity.

The Perceptionists feat. Shock G - Career Finders:

Ofra Haza - אם ננעלו

After hearing this artist’s beautiful vocals on the soundtrack of the animated film The Prince of Egypt, I looked into her other music and found this single of hers as an Israeli pop star. There are quite a few different versions of this song, and this is my favorite.

Ofra Haza A.K.A. אם ננעלו - עפרה חזה [Im Nin’ Alu - If the Doors are Locked]:

Exo-K - What is Love

I admit when I first saw this artist’s MV on YouTube, I laughed at the cheesiness, but their seriously awesome singing made me stand at attention. Their singing is no joke! Props, Korea, for producing a new pop music act that doesn't sound like a group of robots.

Exo-K - What is Love:

Gaelle - Give It Back

Here’s a second track by this artist I discovered only within the past year. The first I posted sounded more new agey, but this one leans toward R&B style.

Gaelle - Give It Back:

Strings - او جانے والے

I can’t believe I didn’t post this Pakistani artist already! I like their soothing music. I think this is my favorite song from their album Duur.
Note: I'm having trouble locating the song title in its original Urdu text, and its translation. I did my best with both given the circumstances, but I apologize if I got either wrong.

Strings - او جانے والے [O Jaane Wale - The Chosen]:

La Oreja de Van Gogh - Muñeca de Trapo

I think I may have learned about this Spanish artist from someone in my high school Spanish class, possibly even the teacher. I’m not crazy about this band, but I like their sound.

La Oreja de Van Gogh - Muñeca de Trapo [Rag Doll]:

System of a Down - Ego Brain

I used to play this band’s first three albums on repeat, and this was one of my favorite tracks (although I had many favorite tracks, admittedly). One of this band's strengths is the harmonization of Serj Tankian's and Daron Malakian's voice, which this song nicely displays.
Note:  Listen in HD!

System of a Down - Ego Brain:

Kiroro - Best Friend

Wahhh, this song brings back memories. It’s one of the first Japanese songs I memorized. Obviously, it’s about friendship. Yay!

Kiroro - Best Friend:

The Piano Guys - Rolling in the Deep

Cellos are my weakness. This cover of Adele’s famous single by the same name is GORGEOUS.
Note: Listen to this magnificence in HD.

The Piano Guys - Rolling in the Deep:

Jenifer - Tourner Ma Page

I came across this song last year while looking for French music. Catchy!

Jenifer - Tourner Ma Page [Turn My Page]:

Hirasawa Susumu - 白虎野の娘

This is from the soundtrack of the trippy anime film Paprika (R.I.P. Satoshi Kon). I probably heard it when I saw the movie in the theatre, but didn't really notice how freakishly cool it sounded until my friend (who saw the movie with me in the theatre) made this his ringtone and played it for me. This composer has a lot of work with the film’s director that sounds both appealing and unnerving at the same time.

Hirasawa Susumu A.K.A. 平沢 進 - 白虎野の娘 [Byakkoya no Musume - The Girl from Byakkoya]:

Flyleaf - I'm So Sick

My friend sent me this song last year, knowing that female-fronted rock bands make me happy. Supposedly this is a Christian band, though I’m not sure how that’s related to the song, other than that it makes me go, "God, her screaming sounds cool."
Note: Rock out in HD!

Flyleaf - I'm So Sick:

Cosmo Jarvis - Gay Pirates

I found out about this somewhat odd young artist through an article on a website a while ago. This guy makes music that isn’t exactly a style a typically like the sound of, but the themes of his songs and his music videos are so interesting I end up enjoying his work. This is, I believe, his most famous song, and although I knew about it shortly after it came out, it seems to have gained a considerable amount of popularity recently. The appeal of this song largely seems to be that people expect it to be cheeky, much like his other songs and as the title indicates, but it catches them by surprise.  As a warning, there are references to violence.  BTW, this artist is slightly younger than me, once again reminding me of how underaccomplished I am.
Note: Watch and listen in HD!

Cosmo Jarvis - Gay Pirates:

Eivør - Trøllabundin

I came across this artist while YouTube surfing some number of months ago. I’m not sure if this song is supposed to be inspired by Native American songs, but it sounds like it to me. Call it cultural appropriation if you want, but it sounds awesome!
Note:  Watch/listen in HD!

Eivør - Trøllabundin [Spellbound]:

Binary Star - Reality Check

This is some fantastic wordplay right here. This song is so clever! The two hip hop artists that make up this collaboration duo are truly are masters of lyricism, and grossly underappreciated.
Note: Take advantage of the HDness!

Binary Star - Reality Check:

The Good Natured - Red Skin

‘Tis another song by this artist! The title of this song kinda grosses me out, but the song sounds cool.

The Good Natured - Red Skin:

Dicta License - Falling Earth

I discovered this Filipino band when I saw their music video for “Ang Ating Araw” playing on television on the Asian channel. I listened to their whole album and liked this song the most.

Dicta License - Falling Earth:

Carole Samaha - حدودي السما

I came across this singer when looking for Arabic music, and since then have seen her name come up a number of times. This sounds like a tango but with Arabic lyrics and singing style. Pretty cool combination. BTW, I don’t speak Arabic at all, so I don’t know the translation of the title. I did the best I could using Google Translate, but if someone knowledgeable has a better translation I’d be happy to hear it.

Edit: A helpful commenter has told me the proper translation of the title, and explained that the title is written as it is pronounced in the Lebanese dialect, hence Google Translate’s failure to translate it well.

Carole Samaha A.K.A. حدودي السما - سماحة كارول [Hodoudi El-Sama - Boundaries of the Sky]:

Fischerspooner - Infidels of the World Unite

I came across this song not long after I found the previous song I posted by this artist. For some reason lately I’ve been playing it a lot. I like the lyrics. I’ve posted religious songs before, but this is kinda the opposite, as it talks about how religion is used for evil and to control people.

Fischerspooner - Infidels of the World Unite:

Angela Aki - Creep

Chances are good that you’ve heard Radiohead’s famous song “Creep,” but have you heard this artist’s Japanese cover of it? I’m not a big fan of the original, but it turns out it sounds a lot better to me when performed with pretty singing and piano chords. I came across this pianist/singer/songwriter a few times over the years and have always appreciated her natural talent and carefree appeal, although I never discovered a song by her that I really loved.

Angela Aki - Creep:

Mindless Self Indulgence - B**ches

This is what insanity sounds like. I heard this song in an AMV. I love the weirdness. Although the lead singer usually just kinda yells, his vibrato falsetto amuses me to no end. Bonus points for the fact that half the band consists of female members! Obviously, this song has profanity. (This is an appropriate post-Valentine's Day song, right? Right?)

Mindless Self Indulgence - B**ches:

Naya Rivera - Songbird

NAYA, WHAT YOU DO TO ME. This is the cover of Fleetwood Mac’s song, from the popular TV series Glee. I'm so glad they're having this artist sing more on the show, because she is one of my favorite singers on there. Her voice is usually so sultry so it was interesting to hear her sing such a sweet, heartfelt style for a change.  This gets me all sentimental, probably in large part because the scene it was used in was a rare moment of vulnerability for the character.

Naya Rivera - Songbird:


She’s great at emoting with her voice AND her face:

Jerry Goldsmith - Short Hair

I remember being a little kid and seeing the SUPER INTENSE AWESOME TRAILER for the Disney movie Mulan that used a version of this SUPER INTENSE AWESOME MUSIC and had Mulan sitting all depressed in the rain and then cutting her hair and riding a horse and I WAS SO EXCITED.

Jerry Goldsmith - Short Hair:


Dude, I was so in love with this trailer:

Blu Cantrell - Hit ‘Em Upstyle (Oops!)

I distinctly remember listening to this song in the car back when it was on the radio all the time. I loved her voice enough to buy her album, but I think this is probably the best song on it. This song doesn’t showcase how amazing her range is, but it is pretty catchy.

Blu Cantrell - Hit ‘Em Upstyle (Oops!):

Eiffel 65 - Living in a Bubble

Another song from my oft-listened-to debut album by this artist. I think this is probably the only song on the album that used non-electronic instruments.  And HOLY CRAP, I totally forgot there was a reggae-style rap in this!  That's pretty unique to this song too.

Eiffel 65 - Living in a Bubble:

Tattle Tale - Glass Vase Cello Case

I heard this song in the hilarious movie But I'm a Cheerleader, which seems to be where everyone else first heard this song too. It sounds kinda raw and unrefined to a fault (although some might find this element charming), but I like the fact that it has cellos. I also like the title.
Note:  Found it in HD!

Tattle Tale - Glass Vase Cello Case:

Sting feat. Cheb Mami - Desert Rose

This song is how I discovered the Algerian rai singer Cheb Mami. Of course I already knew who Sting was, but I liked this song for the Arabic vocals. Years ago, I mentioned that I liked the female singer’s voice in the song, and my father’s GF at the time got confused and told me there WAS no female singer in the song. Then she informed me that the vocalist singing in Arabic is a popular MALE singer from Algeria. Either way, I think his voice is beautiful.
Note: Listen in HD!

Sting feat. Cheb Mami - Desert Rose:

Ayumi Hamasaki - Seasons

Ya'll are surprised I'm posting a song by this J-pop star, huh? Admittedly, she is far from a favorite artist of mine. I typically find her voice annoying. However, she has quite a few catchy songs, including this one, and this was one of the first Japanese songs I ever acquired.

Ayumi Hamasaki A.K.A. 浜崎 あゆみ - Seasons:

The Mars Volta - Inertiatic ESP

This might be my favorite song by this band. I like the lead vocalist’s voice, and the instrumentation in this song is oddly energizing. I think their lyrics are somewhat… influenced… by drugs…

The Mars Volta - Inertiatic ESP:

t.A.T.u. - 30 минут

This song is deliciously creepy! I remember first hearing of this artist years ago at my dad's house, when MTV or VH1 was airing music videos, and their music video for "All the Things She Said" came on and I thought it was the most tragic, beautiful MV I'd seen. XP  Then I looked up their other music and really liked it despite it being pretty "dancy."
Note: I'm including the video, which is kinda racy but awesome. It’s actually one of my favorite MVs.

t.A.T.u. A.K.A. Тату - 30 минут [30 Minut - 30 Minutes]:


And the music video:

Anthony Hamilton - I Used to Love Someone

I’m no expert on his music, but he’s got a wonderful voice. I’ve known about him for a long time, though I don’t remember where from.
Note: Listen in HD!

Anthony Hamilton - I Used to Love Someone:

Snow tha Product - Unorthodox

Listen to her flow!! I found out about this artist a few months ago through a website that has virtually nothing to do with hip hop; they just really liked her so they decided to promote her. This song is about defending her place in hip hop. Let ‘em know. This song is short but she raps so fast it counts for as much content as a regular-length song. There is profanity, so if that bothers you you’ve been warned.
Note: Listen/watch in HD!

Snow tha Product - Unorthodox:

Matt Alber - End of the World

This song is just classy. I think I may have found it through a New Now Next playlist years ago.  The artist’s style and voice remind me of Rufus Wainwright. At first I just liked the song’s strings, but I found the lyrics playing in my head and the whole song ended up really growing on me. The song feels to me like something out of a musical play, perhaps because the lyrics and piano chords invoke ferris wheel/rollercoaster imagery pretty strongly for me.
Note: I can’t believe I found this relatively unknown song uploaded in hi-def, but I did! Make use of it!

Matt Alber - End of the World:

No Doubt - Running

This song used to make me feel REALLY sentimental for some reason. I guess it still kinda does. I associated the lyrics with a close friend (even though I think they're supposed to refer to a lover). My first exposure to the song was through the music video, which I saw on TV many a year ago.
Note: HD, yo.

No Doubt - Running:

Placebo - Twenty Years

I’m not sure why, but this song always stood out to me as one of this band’s absolute best. The lyrics in particular stand out to me. I think they’re about the rapid approach of the future and what we have to look forward to, as well as how the fate of the world will be in the hands of the young listeners, not the idols they look up to now. Even before I had that figured out I really liked the line, “You’re the truth, not I.”
Note: Listen in HD!!

Placebo - Twenty Years: