Son Seung Yeon - 미운오리새끼

This is one of the few songs in a massive K-pop playlist someone sent me that I actually liked. I’d never heard of this singer before. Nice, strong voice and thankfully not trying to sound like a little girl. She was the winner of South Korea’s version of the competition reality show The Voice, and it sounds like that win was well-deserved.

Son Seung Yeon A.K.A. 손승연 - 미운오리새끼 [Miun Orisaeggi - Ugly Duckling]:

Armchair Cynics - Ablaze

I just realized I hadn’t posted a song by this artist even though I meant to quite some time ago. Oops. I discovered this Canadian band through an AMV for the anime series Canaan.

Armchair Cynics - Ablaze:

Within Temptation - Ice Queen

‘Tis another song by this Dutch artist. I very much like the lead singer’s high notes!
Note: HD available!

Within Temptation - Ice Queen:

Taku Iwasaki - Flame

This instrumental piece is from the soundtrack of the anime series Witch Hunter Robin. I always thought it sounded really cool.

Taku Iwasaki A.K.A. 岩崎 琢 - Flame:

Janelle Monáe - Come Alive

This is the first time I’m posting something other than a music video by this artist. This track made me realize that her voice is not only very good, it’s kind of insane. That sustained shriek! Geeze!
Note: Listen in HD!

Janelle Monáe - Come Alive:

Placebo - Song to Say Goodbye

Hey, wanna be depressed? Then watch this MV! But really, I like it a lot. The song itself is, I believe, about the narrator/lead singer losing his friend to drug addiction. That in itself is quite a downer, but compound that with the video and this whole thing fills me with a profound sadness. (Which is good, because that means it’s doing its job as art!)
Note: But first, just the song in HD.

Placebo - Song to Say Goodbye:


Now the MV:


Holy crap, I didn't know there was an extended version of the video until just now! I'm posting that too.

Vienna Teng - Blue Caravan

Here’s a downbeat tune from this American artist. I had an album of hers, Dreaming Through the Noise, and this track in particular always stuck in my head. I like the instrumental aspect of it.
Note: HD, su-weet!

Vienna Teng - Blue Caravan:

Saeed Asayesh - نازی

I don’t love this song, but I don’t hate it either. I’m posting it because I had a housemate who used to play this song an obscene number of times (somehow I always end up living with people who play one song obsessively for months on end), to the point where a bunch of us in the house knew the lyrics despite not knowing Farsi. It basically became his theme song.

Saeed Asayesh - نازی [Nazi - My Dear]:

The Pierces - Sticks and Stones

This will be the second song I’m posting by this Alabamian sister duo, but this time it’s more uptempo. But the real appeal of this song for me lies in the music video, which probably won’t appeal to you if you find horror movies too frightening to watch.  It was my first exposure to this artist, and it impressed me with its macabre style.

The Pierces - Sticks and Stones:


Here’s the MV! It’s not exactly for the faint of heart, though.:

Rodrigo Leão feat. Beth Gibbons - Lonely Carousel

I heard this song on the radio… in KOREA. It took me by surprise a bit. The vocalist is from Portishead, whom I haven’t posted music by (yet).

Rodrigo Leão feat. Beth Gibbons - Lonely Carousel:

Miz Korona feat. Real Reid - This or That

Dangggg, Detroit kinda owns when it comes to hip hop. It produced the most famous rapper alive, Eminem, along with a whole slew of other talented emcees, and now I'm hearing about a lot of talented female emcees emerging outta there too, including Invincible (whom I've posted before) and this artist. Fun fact: this artist got to spit with a significant audience when she was in a scene of the Eminem-starring movie 8 Mile.

Miz Korona feat. Real Reid - This or That:

Miyavi - 嗚呼、悲しきかな雇われの身のブルース

This favorite artist of mine makes a return to this blog! For the longest time I didn't even understand what this song is about (and when I asked my friend who speaks Japanese as a first language she also had no idea), I just thought it sounded hilarious. More recently I came to find out it’s about hating your job. It’s basically the movie Office Space, in song format.
Note: This really should be listened to in HD, because it allows you to better appreciate the weird sounds.

Miyavi A.K.A. 雅 - 嗚呼、悲しきかな雇われの身のブルース [Aa, Kanashiki Kana Yatoware no Mi no BURUUSU - Oh, the Blues of Being Employed in Sorrow]:

Johanna Kurkela - Prinsessalle

I’m not very familiar with this Finnish artist’s music and Lord knows I can’t understand the lyrics by myself, but I think her voice is pretty. I came across her through YouTube surfing.
Note: HD!

Johanna Kurkela - Prinsessalle [For a Princess]:

IAMX - Fire and Whispers

I have been listening to this artist’s album Volatile Times on repeat lately, and this is my favorite track on it. There’s just something beautiful about it. This artist is also known as Chris Corner, the vocalist for Sneaker Pimps, whom I've posted a few songs by already.
Note:  Listen in HD!

IAMX - Fire and Whispers:

3LW - Not This Time

It’s another song by this disbanded R&B group, and it’s from the same album as last time because that’s the only album by them I owned.
Note: There are Spanish subs, if you want them.

3LW - Not This Time:

Emmanuel Jal - Gua

I found out about this Sudanese hip hop artist through an article in Rolling Stone magazine some years ago. I thought his story was interesting and looked into his music. Technically, the English lyrics aren’t that strong, but that can be forgiven because his story and perspective (as a former child soldier) are interesting and the instrumentals are fantastic. This song is especially cool because he codeswitches like a motha among FOUR languages: English, Arabic, Dinka, and Nuer. The title itself can be translated two ways: in Nuer, it means “good,” and in Sudanese Arabic, it means “power.” It’s a linguistic dream!

Emmanuel Jal - Gua [Good/Power]:

Kokia - Ave Maria

I'm so jealous of this artist's voice; you have no idea. It's so angelic! Although this “Ave Maria” is not the famous song everyone knows, this artist has covered that song too—but I find this one more beautiful.

Kokia - Ave Maria:


And here’s the live video!:

JJ Lin - Endless Road

I previously only posted dancey tracks by this Singaporean artist, so I thought it was about time for one of his ballads. It just happens to also be in English, unlike the others I posted by him. His voice is adorable. He’s classically trained, too, which gives him an advantage over many other pop singers.
Note: I found it in HD! (And with German subtitles, in case you should find that necessary.)

JJ Lin A.K.A. 林俊傑 - Endless Road:

Natalie Imbruglia - One More Addiction

I know I’m posting another song from the same album by this Australian artist as last time, but honestly I only own that one album by her and haven’t looked into her later ones, which she’s still releasing. Hmm, maybe I should do that one of these days…

Natalie Imbruglia - One More Addiction:

HIM - Join Me in Death

I think I heard of this Finnish artist through an mp3 rotation site many years ago, but one of my friends is a big fan of the band and sent me more music by them. This song, if you can’t tell by the title, is pretty dark. But I think it’s going for “darkly romantic” rather than outright depressing, because it’s about wanting to commit joint suicide.  But if that disturbs you you probably shouldn't listen to it.
Note: You can listen in HD once again!

HIM - Join Me in Death:

P!NK - Centrefold

I realized I hadn’t posted a song from this artist’s album I’m Not Dead yet, despite it being one of my favorites in my music collection. And I’m a fan, so when I bought this album (that’s right, BOUGHT) I got the fancy platinum edition, which included this song. It’s not exactly kid-friendly, but I think it sounds great and it’s a good embodiment of her “bite me” attitude that has always charmed me.
Note:  HD!

P!NK - Centrefold:

Rain - 태양을 피하는 방법 (Gtr. Remix)

This guy is a maaaajor Korean pop star. He acts, too, and last time I checked wasn’t bad at it. His voice is not my favorite, but I quite like this song.
Note: Woooo, HD again!

Rain A.K.A. 비 - 태양을 피하는 방법 (Gtr. Remix) [Taeyangeul Pihaneun Bangbeop - How to Avoid the Sun]:

YeLLOW Generation - 扉の向こうへ

This was the ending theme song of the much-praised anime series Fullmetal Alchemist. Quite catchy! I know virtually nothing of this artist outside of this song.
Note: You can listen in HD!

YeLLOW Generation - 扉の向こうへ [Tobira no Mukou e - Behind the Door]:

Sage Francis - Inherited Scars

This hip hop song is legit poetry. It might be disturbing to some people, though, because it’s about the artist discovering his sister cuts and wishing he could have done something to stop her.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Sage Francis - Inherited Scars:

Stefanie Sun - 我不愛

Bringin’ this Singaporean artist back! This is the first song I heard by this singer/songwriter, and also one of the first Chinese songs in my music collection! It’s purdy.

Stefanie Sun A.K.A. 孫燕姿 - 我不愛 [Wo Bu Ai - I Don’t Love]:

James Morrison feat. Jessie J - Up

My friend recommended this song to me, knowing that I was already a big fan of Jessie J’s fantastic voice.
Note: HD!

James Morrison feat. Jessie J - Up:

Hadiqa Kiani - Jaanan

This popular Pakistani artist is singing in Pashto. This was somewhat eye-opening to me, as I didn’t know there was a significant Pashto population outside of Afghanistan. The main singer, however, is NOT Pashto, so this song was viewed as a barrier-breaker. Supposedly she is credited for launching a trend in Pakistan of promoting and embracing Pashto culture despite not being Pashto herself.
Note: The video includes an English translation of the lyrics!

Hadiqa Kiani A.K.A. حدیقہ کیانی feat. Irfan Khan A.K.A. خان عرفان - Jaanan [Sweetheart]:

The TRAX - Over the Rainbow (Piano Version)

This is the piano version of a pretty cool rock song by this Korean artist. They used to make rock music that I was into, but at some point they stopped making rock and started making the exact same boring pop ballad music as everyone else in Korea. But before that, though, they made this song, which I’ve always thought is really beautiful, and I loooooove playing this piece on the piano.
Note: Woo, found it in HD!

The TRAX - Over the Rainbow (Piano Version):

Ana Tijoux - Shock

I’ve been listening to this Chilean hip hop artist’s most recent album, La Bala, a lot lately, and I really like the first few tracks on it, especially this one. When she raps fast it melts me. It’s a protest song! The music video conveys the general meaning if you don’t know Spanish, so I’m including that.

Ana Tijoux - Shock:


Here’s the music video, which has HD:

Darren Hayes - Hero

I noticed that I keep posting solo songs by this artist from the same era of his career, but I can’t help it. He’s made great music since then, but this album has me frothing at the mouth every time I listen to it, including last night. It’s what made me fall in love with his music in the first place.  Plus it’s terribly underrated. So here’s yet another song from his genius The Tension and the Spark album, yet another album I'm tempted to post almost every song from.  This has always been one of my favorites from it.  That high note at the end--!!

Darren Hayes - Hero:

Naya Rivera, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Amber Riley - Shake It Out

I maintain that this is one of the absolute best covers the TV show Glee has ever done. While I’ve posted songs with Naya’s smoky vocals and Amber’s breathtaking singing before, this song is a rare opportunity to hear Jenna’s voice, and she does not disappoint. It’s a shame the show largely ignores her. Their voices harmonize so beautifully, the song is arranged excellently, and the original song is lovely to begin with. The original artist is Florence + the Machine.
Note: Listen in HD!

Naya Rivera, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Amber Riley - Shake It Out:


Here’s the scene from the show in which it appeared, which you can also watch in HD:

Eisbrecher - Vergissmeinnicht

If you have never listened to this band before, but the vocalist’s voice sounds familiar, that may be because he was also the vocalist for Megaherz, another German band I’ve posted music by. I can’t really remember how I came across this track, but I guess it was through a fanvideo or something.
Note: Wahh, I found it in HD AND with English subs!

Eisbrecher - Vergissmeinnicht [Forget-Me-Not]:

Destiny's Child - She Can’t Love You

I can’t believe I’d only posted one song by this group so far. I played this artist’s albums SO MUCH it was ridiculous, especially this one. I’m tempted to post almost every song from their album Writing’s on the Wall, but I’ll start with just 2. I like how Beyoncé sings low in it.
Note: Listen in HD!

Destiny's Child - She Can’t Love You:

Piko - 桜音

My friend sent me this song by this Japanese artist, which confused the heck out of me because he looked like a dude in the MV but the singing sounded exactly how female Japanese pop singers sound. Turns out the artist’s talent is impersonating a female singing voice, although he has mastery of a male-sounding voice as well.  Crazy!
Note: Hay HD!

Piko A.K.A. ピコ - 桜音 [Sakurane - Cherry Blossom Sound]:

Evanescence - Missing (Demo Version)

More Evanescence! Oh man, when I was in the first year of high school I listened to this band SO MUCH. This was always one of my favorite songs, and it’s one of their older ones. There’s another more common version of the song that I think was an official release from recent years, but this is the version of the song I heard and loved first.
Note:  You can listen in HD!

Evanescence - Missing (Demo Version):

Selvmord - Råbe under Vand

I don’t really understand the lyrics myself ‘cause I don’t know Danish, but the song sounds pretty cool. A quick run of the lyrics through Google translate indicates it’s about a cheating significant other, though, so it’s pretty standard song subject matter.

Selvmord - Råbe under Vand [Shouting Underwater]:

Missy Elliot - Get Ur Freak On

Oh, Missy. Even at a young age, I appreciated the wackiness of her style and music videos. She’s not my favorite lyricist, but I really like her style. For some reason, this music video features appearances by other famous hip hop artists like Eve, Busta Rhymes, Timbaland, and Ludacris. It has profanity.

Missy Elliot - Get Ur Freak On:

Patrick Wolf - The Sun is Often Out

Time for another track by this artist! This was a standout track for me on his album The Bachelor. In case you’re wondering why it sounds so melancholy, supposedly this song is about his friend, a poet who committed suicide.
Note: Song available in HD!

Patrick Wolf - The Sun is Often Out:

Slava - Одиночество

I found this through a music blog and thought it was pretty catchy, but was a bit surprised and amused when I noticed one of the most conspicuous words I could understand in the song is a swear word. So if you’re a Russian speaker you have been forewarned of profanity!

Слава A.K.A. Slava - Одиночество [Odinochyestvo - Lonely]:

PSY - 강남스타일

This music video is making the rounds of the Internet lately, even among people who don’t normally listen to K-pop. I figured I’d put it up at the inception of its popularity. I heard of this Korean artist years ago when he did a collaboration with one of my favorite music artists, Miyavi.
Note: You can watch in HD!

PSY - 강남스타일 [Gangnam Style]:

Yoko Kanno feat. Scott Matthew - Beauty is Within Us

So, since last time I posted a song with a male composer featuring a female vocalist, this time I wanted to post a song by a female composer featuring a male singer. By coincidence, the singer’s last name is similar to the previous singer’s last name. This is from one of the excellent soundtracks of the anime series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. This Japanese composer frequently features this Australian vocalist in her work, but this is probably my favorite of all the tracks I’ve heard this singer in.
Note: Listen in HD!

Yoko Kanno A.K.A. 菅野 よう子 feat. Scott Matthew - Beauty is Within Us:

Saltillo feat. Sarah Matthews - Giving In

I found this artist through a music recommendation blog, and I’m glad I did. Confusingly, this artist has gone by different names, including this one, Avis, Menton3, and his real one, Menton J. Matthews. His wife is the featured vocalist on this track. I guess the guy is super talented because he’s a comic book artist and painter as well as an electronic musician, and he can play a crapload of instruments, including my favorites, violin, viola, cello, and piano. The end result is some pretty cool-sounding music.
Note: Listen in HD!

Saltillo feat. Sarah Matthews - Giving In:

Lady Gaga - Poker Face (Acoustic Version)

Know what's funny? I actually saw this artist in her first televised performance, before she REALLY blew up, when she was on the 2008 NewNowNext Awards, a tiiiiiiny little awards show targeting the LGBT community wherein they try to predict what the "next big thing" will be. She performed "Just Dance," and to be honest I wasn't that impressed (I still don't care for that song). Well, clearly they knew what they were talking about because next thing I know the song is friggin' ALL OVER THE PLACE and she's suddenly the world's biggest current pop star. Weird. Anyway, here's the acoustic version of the first song by her that I liked, which proved to me that she really CAN sing (as well as play piano, compose, and a whole host of other things).

Lady Gaga - Poker Face (Acoustic Version):

Moddi - Smoke

Sounds like Celtic music! It even sounds like the artist has an Irish dialect, but he’s actually Norwegian. There’s a wee bit o’ profanity. I’m not even sure why, but I REALLY like this song, especially the instrumentation.
Note: HD para ti!

Moddi - Smoke:

Angela Chang - 口袋的天空

Last time I posted a song by this artist, it was a relatively little-known song by her that I happened to like. This time, though, I’m going with something much more mainstream. In fact, if you’ve ever heard her music at all you’ve probably heard this song, since it was the theme to the Taiwanese drama series Bump Off Lover (which I started to watch and never finished).

Angela Chang A.K.A. 張韶涵 - 口袋的天空 [Kou Dai De Tian Kong - Pocket Sky]:

Da Backwudz - I Don’t Like the Look of It

I don’t have an intellectual justification for this. I just like that they used the Oompa Loompa song from the classic movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Note: HD!

Da Backwudz - I Don’t Like the Look of It:

Hajime Chitose - 春のかたみ

I can’t remember what the first song was that I heard by this Japanese artist, but I think I picked it up from an mp3 rotation site. I like her island-style singing, similar to a few other Japanese artists I’ve posted.
Note: HD, AND English subtitles!

Hajime Chitose A.K.A. 元ちとせ - 春のかたみ [Haru no Katami - Spring’s Shoulders]:

Van Canto - Battery

A CAPELLA METAL!!!! YESSSSSSSS. (This is a cover of Metallica’s song by the same name.)
Note: Watch/listen in HD.

Van Canto - Battery:

Stefanie Heinzmann - My Man is a Mean Man

Girl got a soul on her! This Swiss artist seems like an upbeat Adele. There’s a bit of profanity. Also, this song is kinda messed up, but her voice sounds good.

Stefanie Heinzmann - My Man is a Mean Man:

Dustin O'Halloran - A Great Divide

I think I came across this artist by YouTube surfing. Honestly, a lot of what I’ve heard of his work sounds like the stuff I came up with while fooling around on the piano—that is to say, pretty, but not particularly complex or difficult. Still, it sounds nice, and this track has the added beauty of strings.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Dustin O'Halloran - A Great Divide:

Ellie Goulding - Home

It’s the return of this pretty-voiced artist! There are quite a few songs by her I wanted to post, even though I’ve already posted 2 by her. First I went with a pop song, then with a ballad, so now I’m going with something in between.
Note: This has HD!

Ellie Goulding - Home:

Young the Giant - Cough Syrup

I was gonna make a joke about how the TV show Glee takes tips for what songs to cover from my music blog, because songs I post, even old songs and non-single releases, often end up on the show after I post them, but this time Glee bit off from my queue by covering this song before I posted it (but was planning to). So let the record show that I did NOT come across this song because of Glee!
Note: I found a video in HD!

Young the Giant - Cough Syrup:

Shy'm - Je Suis Moi

I discovered this artist when I was looking for French music last year. I just like her voice. This isn’t the song I initially came across by her, but I found it just now and liked the song’s meaning. And therefore included a video with an English translation of the lyrics for your viewing pleasure!

Shy'm - Je Suis Moi [I am Me]:

MUCC - Black Smoke

This Japanese artist is making a reappearance here! This is the first song I acquired by this band, which sold me on them. I got it through an mp3 rotation site many years ago. I remember playing this around my dad’s then-GF and her staring at me incredulously going, “You like THIS?” It’s not for everyone, clearly, but yes, I like it.

MUCC - Black Smoke:

Lim Jeong Hee - Music is My Life

Word. For some reason, I have long thought of this artist as something like the Korean Alicia Keys. I’ve seen others make this comparison as well.

Lim Jeong Hee A.K.A. 임정희 - Music is My Life:

Adam Lambert - Runnin’

GOD, this track sounds awesome. I’ve had the album this is from, Trespassing, on repeat for weeks now, and this is definitely one of my favorite tracks from it. I am lovin’ the sound of this fantastic singer’s lower register. I could have done without the autotune though.
Note: Listen in SUPER HD!

Adam Lambert - Runnin’:

Nelly Ciobanu - Hora Din Moldova

I don’t remember how I found this, but this was Moldova’s 2009 entry in the Eurovision contest. Sounds pretty awesome! Also makes me feel all patriotic about a country I’ve never been to. :-P

Nelly Ciobanu - Hora Din Moldova [Dance from Moldova]:

AWOLNATION - Sail

I heard this song because of this video, which makes me laugh really hard even though I’m not sure if it should: http://videohall.tumblr.com/post/22947862416/anybody-know-what-happened-to-the-cat
Note: HD again!

AWOLNATION - Sail:

Iyoeka - Simply Falling

My friend just sent this to me. One comment I saw described her as a cross between Amy Winehouse and Sade, which I think is a pretty apt comparison.
Note:  Suuuuuupah HD available!

Iyoeka - Simply Falling:

Jónsi - Kolniður

This artist is the lead singer of the Icelandic band Sigur Rós, whom I’ve posted music by twice already. This is music from his solo project, which doesn’t sound all that different from his work with the band. Sidenote: My friend saw him perform live and said the performance moved her to tears, which is not an easy feat to accomplish with her.
Note: HD!

Jónsi - Kolniður [Pitch Blackness]:

Tori Amos - Winter

This glorrrrrrrious artist returns to this blog once again. This is one of my all-time favorite songs by this artist, along with the other songs I’ve posted by her. This is also one of the very few Tori songs I feel I understand. To the best of my interpretation abilities, it’s about how things change as you grow up, but how she always valued her relationship with her father. I used to play this song on the piano all the time.

Tori Amos - Winter:



And a live version in HD:

Xia feat. Flowsik - Tarantallegra

Someone sent me this song in a gigantic playlist of K-pop. I was blasé about most of it, but this song really stood out. In particular, the “Americanness” of the rapper struck me and led me to look up the song info, at which point I confirmed my suspicion: the artist is indeed American, and from the hip hop group Aziatix. I’m not sure exactly what it is that tipped me off, but his swagger is distinctively American, even though his role in the song is minimal. BTW, the main artist is evidently the new incarnation of Xiah, from the original version of the K-pop group DBSK, whom I’ve posted music by before. I guess he’s doing stuff as a solo artist now.
Note:  It's also in HD!

Xia A.K.A. 준수 feat. Flowsik - Tarantallegra:

Eve feat. Gwen Stefani - Let Me Blow Ya Mind

Another song by this famous hip hop artist! In collaboration with this famous singer! I must have heard this song a LOT back in the day when I regularly watched hip hop and R&B MVs on TV after school, because I never had an mp3 of this track or her CD, yet I remember a good portion of the lyrics. Which have some profanity, BTW.

Eve feat. Gwen Stefani - Let Me Blow Ya Mind:

K’naan feat. Chubb Rock - ABCs

‘Tis another song by this hip hop artist. When I first started listening to him, I don’t think he was that well-known, but now it seems he’s doin’ big thangs. I honestly had a hard time picking which song to post by him because he has so many good ones.

K’naan feat. Chubb Rock - ABCs:

Emeli Sandé - Heaven

My friend sent me this song a few months ago, and reminded me of it again recently. I like her voice and style!
Note: HD, FUUUUUU~!

Emeli Sandé - Heaven:

Gotye - Smoke and Mirrors

Everyone heard of this artist over the past few months through another song, but I heard this song in an episode of the British soap Hollyoaks.
Note: HD yet again.

Gotye - Smoke and Mirrors:

ChocQuibTown - Hasta el Techo

I found this Colombian artist on YouTube. I’m kinda annoyed at the moment ‘cause one of my posts got taken down for no good reason.
Note: HD, biznitches!

ChocQuibTown - Hasta el Techo [To the Ceiling]:

Phil Collins - You’ll Be in My Heart

This song is from the Disney film Tarzan. I always thought it was a nice song. Today I was watching videos of gorillas (‘cause that’s apparently how I spend my free time) so this seemed apropos. Also, I’ve known who this British artist was since I was very little, and I have no idea why.
Note: And there’s HD!

Phil Collins - You’ll Be in My Heart:

Kaori Hikita - みちゆき

This is the ending theme of the anime series Loveless. It’s pretty and calm. It’s one of my favorite anime theme songs. I used to play it on the piano a lot, but I fear by now I’ve forgotten how.

Kaori Hikita A.K.A. 引田 香織 - みちゆき [Michiyuki - Journey]:

Jay Brannan - Rob Me Blind

A website I frequent posts songs by this actor/singer/songwriter once in a while, but I never found them particularly compelling until they posted this one. I blame the strings.

Jay Brannan - Rob Me Blind:

Aaliyah feat. Timbaland - Are You That Somebody

I think this song was my first exposure to the late Aaliyah. I remember listening to it in my best friend’s room back in elementary school. It was on a compilation album of the hits of the year, and this was one of my favorite tracks on it.
Note: HD music video.

Aaliyah feat. Timbaland - Are You That Somebody:

Adam Hurst - Sparrow

Came across this whilst YouTube surfing. Of course it’s got that cello I love.
Note: And HD!

Adam Hurst - Sparrow:

Cassandra Steen - Es ist Wahr

I’ve posted music by this German artist before, but upon listening to the album this song is on many times, I found this song to be the one I was drawn to replay the most.

Cassandra Steen - Es ist Wahr [It is True]:

SID - 隣人

Good ol’ SID, with their jazzy Japanese rock and Mao’s unique vocals. This song of theirs is among the most replayed in my collection. I think someone should choreograph a dance to it.

SID A.K.A. シド - 隣人 [Rinjin - Neighbor]:

Bertie Blackman - Byrds of Prey

This Australian artist’s music reminds me of that of The Good Natured. I found her via YouTube surfing.

Bertie Blackman - Byrds of Prey:

Black Eyed Peas - Bebot

Did you know American party jam group Black Eyed Peas have a song in Tagalog? I was embarrassingly excited when I first learned that. Evidently one of the rappers in the group, Apl.de.ap, is half-Filipino and proud of his heritage, so he made this song with the group. And I guess it was so important to them they made TWO music videos for it. I like how in the videos the rest of the group is reppin’ the Pinoy pride and they’re not even Filipino.
Note: HD is here!

Black Eyed Peas - Bebot [Baby]:

Maria Mena - Eyesore

I find that, generally, this Norwegian artist’s music is very beautiful in melody, instrumentation, and vocalization, but sometimes her lyrics seem overly literal or otherwise off-putting to me. But I’m trying to ignore that to appreciate the rest more. This song is pretty strong lyrics-wise, though. It’s about anorexia nervosa. Heavy stuff.

Maria Mena - Eyesore:

Muse - Unintended

Finally gettin’ some Muse up in heah. I like quite a few of their songs, but I heard this one the other day and felt like posting it.
Note: And in hi-def!

Muse - Unintended:

Niyaz - دلربا

I heard this Iranian artist first through a cover of a famous English-language song. Their songs seem to cover a good range of languages, from English to Farsi to Urdu. This song has a title in Farsi, but the lyrics are in Urdu and from an Urdu poem. Sounds cool, no?

Niyaz A.K.A. دلربا - نياز [Dilruba - Enchanting]:

Murs - H-U-S-T-L-E

I used to always listen to this hip hop track back when I was first getting into underground hip hop. It’s pretty entertaining in content as well as catchy in sound. It’s a mildly humorous autobiographical account of how the artist scraped by without resorting to peddling drugs. There is profanity.
Note: It’s available in HD!

Murs - H-U-S-T-L-E:

Corrinne May - Scars (Stronger for Life)

I heard this song in an AMV, though I'd heard of this Singaporean artist before. I’ve only heard a few songs by her, and they were all in a pretty style similar to this song. I also noticed some religious undertones in her lyrics.

Corrinne May - Scars (Stronger for Life):

Elliott Yamin - Wait for You

I never watched the TV show American Idol, but I heard this guy was a contestant on it. He didn't win, but it appears he got a career out of it anyway, since I heard of him when I saw his music video for this song playing on TV and was like, "Who is this dude? He has a GREAT voice!" Then this song was all over the radio. I should probably look into more music by him…
Storytime: A few years ago, someone I had fallen out of contact with back in middle school sent me a message, seemingly out of nowhere, confessing a rather personal story about how he was in love with his best friend, who had a GF, and how his best friend had posted this song on his blog as a dedication to him… It was so dramatic that I now associate this song with that story.
Note: Song’s in HD!

Elliott Yamin - Wait for You:

Ane Brun - True Colors

Cyndi Lauper is the original singer of this song, but her version makes my ears bleed. Fortunately, I came across this lovely cover by Norwegian singer Ane Brun first (in a commercial... sad, I know) and couldn't stop replaying it. It's SO PRETTY.
Random: I discovered there's a mini-album of a bunch of Korean artists covering this song. Yes. Every track is a cover of the song in each artist's respective style. I have no idea why they did that.  I suspect they are not aware of the song's "It Gets Better"esque connotations.
Note: I found it in hi def!!

Ane Brun - True Colors:

The Yellow Monkey - メロメ

My friend who's a fan of this Japanese band burned a CD for me that contained this song. I thought it was nice, so here ya go!

The Yellow Monkey - メロメ [Merome]:

Celine Dion - That's the Way It Is

Apparently a lot of people hate Celine Dion. I don't really get it, and I don't really care--she has an amazing voice. This song used to be on the radio, I think.  ¡Me gusta!
Note: HD!

Celine Dion - That's the Way It Is:

Ludwig van Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata, 1st Movement

This is one of my favorite classical piano pieces. It’s so simple, yet so pretty.
Note: Enjoy it in HD!

Ludwig van Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata, 1st Movement:

Dixie Chicks - Not Ready to Make Nice

This song both responded to the exile of this group, my longtime favorite country artist, from the country music community after they made a statement criticizing then-president Bush, and signalled their transition into the pop music world. Their music style still sounds the same to me, it’s just that their songs started being played on pop radio stations instead of country music ones (because country music stations were boycotting them, and the pop music world embraces their Bush-criticizing ways). Worked for me, since I actually quite like this song and probably wouldn’t have heard it if it weren’t on non-country radio stations. Plus, the subject matter of the song is clearly about that whole fiasco—and their refusal to apologize for their comments despite being exiled and expressing their disgust with how people responded.
Note: I think my first exposure to this song occurred when I saw the MV on television. I loved the visuals in it and for a while became obsessed with the pretty, so I’m including it here along with the song in HD.

Dixie Chicks - Not Ready to Make Nice:


And the prettiful MV::

Blue Scholars - The Distance

I can’t remember where I first heard of this two-man hip hop group based in Seattle, but I do remember that this was the first song by them I heard. The song is about the immigrant experience in the United States. It’s quite poetic!
Note: HD!

Blue Scholars - The Distance:

Nina Simone - Feeling Good

This cover of the song is pretty famous, so I’ve heard it many times throughout my life, but I always assumed the singer was male. It wasn’t until sometime within the past few years that I learned that the singer was female. Clearly, she has a unique vocal quality.
Note: HD available!

Nina Simone - Feeling Good:

Orange Range - Asterisk

Howwwwwwww did I forget this song for so long? I scared one of my Japanese-speaking friends one time by singing the first few lines of this song. It’s so fun! I learned it because it was the first opening theme of the anime series Bleach, which I watched the first 11 episodes of.

Orange Range - Asterisk:

Lissie - When I’m Alone

I found out about this artist through WTF Should I Listen to Now?. This is the first song I heard by her, and out of the handful of songs I’ve heard by her thus far it’s the only one I actually like.

Lissie - When I’m Alone:

Staind - Fade

Another song from one of my most often-played albums, Break the Cycle. I used to listen to this album sooooo much, and this was one of my favorite songs from it.
Note: Shweeeeeet, found in super HD!

Staind - Fade:

MISSTER - Bomb Bomb Bomb

...That's it, I'm moving to Taiwan. Not gonna lie; this androgynous girl group's appeal to me has a lot more to do with their appearance than their music (though the music doesn't hurt either). This is almost certainly a gimmick group, but it obviously is working on me, because their style reduces me to a squealing pile of flail. Evidently this is a cover of a Korean song "Boom Boom Boom" by SHU-I.
Note:  English subs, oh yeahhhhh!

MISSTER - Bomb Bomb Bomb:

Woodkid - Iron

My friend sent me this music video not long ago, probably due to its epicness. It sounds pretty cool, though the Engrish takes away from the cool factor a bit. Then again, Engrish has never stopped me before. I guess it’s from the video game Assassin’s Creed: Revelations.
Note: Video included in HD, and it’s the official music video, because it looks awesome.

Woodkid - Iron:

Marina & the Diamonds - Fear & Loathing

When I heard music by this artist a while ago, I didn’t care for her sound. But I heard this song on the British soap opera Hollyoaks the other day and thought it was nice. Also, note that she, like Florence + the Machine, has a stage name that deceptively appends a band-sounding title to the singer’s first name, giving the impression that it consists of a band of people when in fact it’s just one talented woman. Man, UK female artists are owning lately…
Note: There is HD!

Marina & the Diamonds - Fear & Loathing:

Disturbed - Shout 2000

It’s time for this band again! Years ago I became addicted to this song, which was originally by Tears for Fears under the title “Shout,” and I made my father listen to it repeatedly in his car.
Note: Rock out in HD!

Disturbed - Shout 2000:

Nelly Furtado - Turn Off the Light

This artist, as far as I know, is still pretty well-known and still makin’ hits, although this song was popular when I was a youngun’. By accident, I ended up memorizing this song just by hearing it so many times on the radio.

Nelly Furtado - Turn Off the Light:

Chemistry - Floatin’

I probably discovered this Japanese R&B duo through an mp3 rotation site years ago. I really like their voices, although I find myself wishing their songs were more interesting.
Note:  HD!

Chemistry - Floatin’:

Lykke Li - Tonight

OK, I’ve heard a few songs by this artist and never really cared for them—in fact, the style somewhat bothers me. But I heard this song in a fanvideo and the chorus hasn’t left my mind since.

Lykke Li - Tonight:

Rufus Wainwright - Little Sister

For me, the main appeal of this song is in the lyrics. They consist of a boy (suggested by the lyrics and instrumentation to be Mozart) singing to his little sister about how she won’t become famous based on talent alone like he will, because she’s female, and he will still go down in history as more famous than her for the same reason. It’s a commentary on the gender double standard in the entertainment biz, at any stage in history.

Rufus Wainwright - Little Sister: