Jukka Poika - Mielhyvää

DUDE. IT’S FINNISH REGGAE. This is a magical discovery.

Jukka Poika - Mielhyvää [Delight]:

Niyaz - Lovesong

This song is originally by The Cure, but a number of covers of this song exist, including the version of this song I first encountered, Tori Amos’s cover. I came across this rendition not too long ago and liked it too, because it gives it a cool Middle Eastern flair. This song was my first exposure to this Iranian artist.

Niyaz A.K.A. نياز - Lovesong:

System of a Down - Sugar

This song is a longtime favorite of my friend’s and mine—one day we discovered that we had inadvertently memorized this song by listening to it so many times when we attempted to recite it all the way through. Much of the time whenever sugar is mentioned, this song’s chorus (guitar and all) plays in my head. “Do do! Do do, do! Do dooooo! SUGAAAAAA!” Also, this song is fun to karaoke to but it’s not good to play around people who can’t abide by profanity.
Note: You can listen in HD!

System of a Down - Sugar:

Ayaka Hirahara - Jupiter

I think I heard this song a long time ago through an mp3 rotation site or something, but a couple years ago my friend who loves this song played it for me to demonstrate the singer’s great range. Later, she requested that I learn the lyrics so we could sing it together at karaoke, with her handling the low notes (which are kinda her thing) and me the high ones (which are kinda my thing). The video also has an English translation of the lyrics!

Ayaka Hirahara A.K.A. 平原 綾香 - Jupiter:

Frank Ocean - Forrest Gump

Not trying to hate, but while everyone was flipping out over how good this artist’s debut album, Channel Orange, was, I listened to the whole thing a few times and in all honestly don’t see what the big deal is about. The only song that stood out to me enough to play in my head later was this one. I like the lines in the lyrics about cigarettes; something about that struck me as poetic. This young R&B artist shook up the mainstream hip hop/R&B world right at his mainstream career’s inception. He made a bold move by announcing directly PRIOR to the release of his first album that it was inspired by his first love, who was—GASP—a man, but in spite of that revelation (or perhaps because of it?) his album charted at number 1 so I guess the career gamble worked out for him.
Note: Listen in HD, yo!

Frank Ocean - Forrest Gump:

Ailee - Heaven

I heard of this Korean artist when one of my FB friends posted a link to this song’s music video. It’s cool how her voice oscillates between breathy and beautiful to strong and powerful.
Note: The video has HD, as well as an English translation of the lyrics.

Ailee A.K.A. 에일리 - Heaven:

Guniw Tools - Baby’s One Do

In all honesty, this is the only song by this Japanese artist I have, but it’s a catchy one. I think I found it through an mp3 rotation site.

Guniw Tools - Baby’s One Do:

Sheryfa Luna - Si Tu N'étais Plus Là

I came across this R&B artist while YouTube surfing for French music. I just found out she was born about the same time as me. ANYWAY, this is the first song I came across by her, and it was enough to convince me that her other music was worth looking into.

Sheryfa Luna - Si Tu N'étais Plus Là [If You Were No Longer Here]:

Savage Garden - Break Me Shake Me

I’m so glad I went back, years after this mega-popular Australian duo had split up, and listened to their albums despite not liking their big hits, because otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten to hear this awesome song by them. You can definitely hear the Michael Jackson influence in this one.
Note: And you can listen to this song in superrrr HD!

Savage Garden - Break Me Shake Me:

Gabrielle Aplin - The Power of Love

I found this young British artist through YouTube surfing, but was reminded of her existence when this song was used in an episode of the British soap Hollyoaks.

Gabrielle Aplin - The Power of Love:

The Perceptionists - Breathe in the Sun

Here's a pretty song by this talented hip hop group. I like listening to this song when I actually am outside in the sun. Since I’ve been back in the U.S. I’ve been loving waking up every morning to the bright sunlight, so it feels like a good time to post this.

The Perceptionists - Breathe in the Sun:

Beyoncé - Sweet Dreams

Just Queen B doing what she does. This artist practically reigns over American pop/R&B music at the moment and has for quite some time, so if you don't know who she is I don't even know where to begin.  I haven’t really been feeling that much of her solo music but I heard this in a video and liked it. In fact, it’s been playing in my head the past few days.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Beyoncé - Sweet Dreams:

TNK - Söyle Ruhum

I came across this artist while YouTube surfing for Turkish music. Most of my discoveries that day were “meh,” but when I listened to music by this artist I was like, “Oooooh, I LIKE this!” I’ll include the official MV with English subtitles.

TNK - Söyle Ruhum [Tell My Soul]:


The subtitled MV is here:

Shiina Ringo - 茎(STEM)〜大名遊ビ編〜

I believe the English version of this song is from the soundtrack of the Japanese movie Casshern (which I’ve never seen). This Japanese artist is known for her odd style, which is why I was drawn to her. I think I became familiar with her work, including this song, through mp3 rotation sites. P.S., this track has like 50 different versions and it was surprisingly difficult to come across this, the one I wanted to post.

Shiina Ringo A.K.A. 椎名 林檎 - 茎(STEM)〜大名遊ビ編〜 [Kuki (STEM)~Daiyoubi Asobi Hen~ - Stem (STEM)~At Play With a Feudal Lord~]:

Sick Puppies - You’re Going Down

I can’t for the life of me remember how I heard this song first… but I like it. Don’t listen if you can’t tolerate profanity.
Note: HD available!

Sick Puppies - You’re Going Down:

Kin4Life - Indian in My Family

I just found my new theme song! XD  (This hip hop song has profanity.)

Kin4Life - Indian in My Family:

Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky - Времена года, опус 37: Июнь (Баркарола)

My longtime piano teacher really liked this composer, so I was assigned a lot of his works, including this one. I wasn’t as enthusiastic about Tchaikovsky as my teacher, but this piece was among my favorites to play by him because it’s prettiful. (I think it was around this time that my teacher correctly observed, “You like minor keys.”)

Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky A.K.A. Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский - Времена года, опус 37: Июнь (Баркарола) [Vryemyena Goda, Opus 37: Iyun’ (Barkarola) - The Seasons, Opus 37: June (Barcarolle)]:

Amel Larrieux - No One Else

This song was apparently on the soundtrack of the Chris Rock movie Why Did I Get Married Too, but I heard it on a German TV show. It didn’t stand out to me much to begin with, but I found it was stuck in my head and was driven to listen to it many more times.
Note: Woo, HD!

Amel Larrieux - No One Else:

9ice - Gongo Aso

This was this Nigerian artist’s big hit. I found his music through a compilation album of African music, and although this wasn’t the song featured by this artist, I came across it by looking into his other music.

9ice - Gongo Aso [Roll Out the Drums]:

G.E.M. -下一秒(我們就要死掉)

My friend sent me the lyrics MV for this song and I was impressed by how different it sounded from a lot of other Hong Kong pop. It’s got that singer-songwriter vibe instead of manufactured pop star vibe.
Note: I like the visuals for the official lyrics MV, so I’m posting that. And it’s in HD!

G.E.M. -下一秒(我們就要死掉) [Xia Yi Miao (Wo Men Jiu Yao Si Diao) - The Next Second (We Will Die)]:

Secret Garden - Silence Speaks

I first heard this Irish/Norwegian duo’s song in a fanvideo and thought it was very lovely. I didn’t realize that this artist is also the author of the immensely famous and oft-covered song “You Raise Me Up.” Ya learn something new every day!
Note: AND this video offers HD1

Secret Garden - Silence Speaks:

Chino XL - Wordsmith

True to its title, this is some impressive flexing of this hip hop artist’s lyrical skills. The whole song is chock full of clever wordplay—but it ain’t kid-friendly so don’t use it to teach a 6-year-old about English poetry. “I got caught killing time, but then I got a-way with words.”

Chino XL - Wordsmith:

Brandy - Right Here (Departed)

I have known of this artist forever, but I heard this song a few years ago at a party and looked it up based on the lyrics. I didn’t even know Brandy was still making music until then! Good for her.
Note: You can listen in HD again!

Brandy - Right Here (Departed):

Noah & the Whale - The First Days of Spring

I heard this song in a trailer. I love the strings part. I wish there were more of that ‘cause the vocals don’t do anything for me. There’s one instance of profanity, if you’re paying attention.
Note: And you can listen in HD!

Noah & the Whale - The First Days of Spring:

Birdy - Be Free

I came across this on YouTube. I’m pretty sure it’s a live performance, which is the only version I found. This British artist became famous at age 12, and now that she's 16 she's still makin' music.
Note: HD!

Birdy - Be Free:

Stas Shurins - Прости

I found this by YouTube surfing for Russian-language music. Check that luscious cello at the beginning.  I've been playing this song quite a bit lately.  Although the language is Russian, I discovered the artist is actually Latvian.
Note: HD HD HD!

Stas Shurins A.K.A. Стас Шуринс - Прости [Prosti - Forgive]:

Silja - Undskyld Pernille

Danish pop! I found this by YouTube surfing.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Silja - Undskyld Pernille [Sorry Pernille]:

Quietdrive - Until the End (Acoustic Version)

I like both the acoustic and regular version of this song, which I found through a fanvideo. I decided to go with the acoustic version because of the inclusion of strings. But if you want a faster, more rock-sounding version I recommend the regular one.

Quietdrive - Until the End (Acoustic Version):

Do As Infinity - 深い森

Another song by this Japanese artist, also a theme song of the popular anime series Inu Yasha. I read that this was their best-selling single, which is notable because this band has been around for a while.

Do As Infinity - 深い森 [Fukai Mori - Deep Forest]:

Breaking Benjamin - Blow Me Away

I knew of this artist for a long time, but I only heard this track a few years ago.
Note: HD available!

Breaking Benjamin - Blow Me Away:

Of Monsters and Men - King and Lionheart

As I said when my friend sent this music video to me: somebody put some serious effort into this video. That’s the main feature of this post for me, rather than the song. (I’d heard of this Icelandic artist before, but never really looked into their music.)
Note: You can watch in HD!

Of Monsters and Men - King and Lionheart:

Tank - I Can’t Make You Love Me

Here’s a cover of the famous Bonnie Raitt song of the same name. I’ve always liked the melody, but R&B vocals are more my style so I really like this.
Note: HD quality available!

Tank - I Can’t Make You Love Me:

Ofra Haza - ירושלים של זהב

This is a cover of a famous Israeli song by this late and great Israeli artist. I love the song’s melody as well as this singer’s voice, so this is one of my favorites by her.

Ofra Haza A.K.A. ירושלים של זהב - עפרה חזה [Yelushalayim Shel Zahav - Jerusalem of Gold]:

Taro Iwashiro - Her Most Beautiful Smile

This piece is one of my absolute favorites to play on the piano. I’ve played it so much I’ve inadvertently come up with my own rendition of it just by tweaking little things over time. My mom’s kinda obsessed with it too and tries to make me play it for her all the time. It’s so pretty, I can’t even tell you the number of times people have overheard me playing it and went out of their way to ask me what the piece was. Many of them were surprised to find out it’s from the soundtrack of an anime, the Rurouni Kenshin movie called Ishin Shishi e no Requiem (which I’ve never seen, despite having watched much of the anime series, read much of the manga series, and watched one of the OVAs many times).
Note: You can listen in HD!

Taro Iwashiro A.K.A. 岩代 太郎 - Her Most Beautiful Smile:

Vaile - Red Rain

This song is like the theme song for one of my favorite fictional characters EVER so I have pretty positive associations with it. For some reason I can't seem to find much information on this song's artist, but as far as I can surmise she's German. I'm pretty sure the whole song is in English but I can't understand all of it.

Vaile - Red Rain:

Mykki Blanco - Wavvy

God, I don’t know… I heard about this unique hip hop artist through an article on a website and decided to look him up. Some of his tracks are too weird for me (!!), but this song, the first I listened to by him, is oddly addictive. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I cannot. stop. coming back to it to listen “one more time.”  Something about his voice in the chorus and the instrumental are strangely mesmerizing.  There is profanity.  (I saw a YouTube comment that described him as a "hood Lady Gaga," which is a pretty accurate characterization from what I've seen so far.)
Note: I normally try to avoid posting official MVs, especially when they're this unusual, but I can’t find this song uploaded in good quality otherwise. The upside is the music video is in HD. And the intro is great. “You rob a Walgreens?!” had me laughing.

Mykki Blanco - Wavvy:

Loreena McKennitt - The Mummer’s Dance

I’m not sure, because it was so long ago, but I think this may have been the first song I made an effort to memorize all the lyrics of (aside from The Circle of Life from The Lion King). And I did! Lovely song, and probably the most popular by this artist. Listening to this song brings me back to my childhood.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Loreena McKennitt - The Mummer’s Dance:

Mustafa Ceceli - Es

I somehow ended up listening to Turkish pop music on YouTube. This caught my attention because that is quite a range the artist’s got there.
Note: Video has HD listening!

Mustafa Ceceli - Es [Blow]:

Destiny’s Child - Fancy

Am I a hater?   Maybe.  But I’ve always liked this song!
Note: Some HD fo yo earholes!

Destiny’s Child - Fancy:

RED - Already Over

I think I originally found out about this artist through a friend’s recommendation, but later listened to this song because of a music recommendation thread on a website. I recently listened to the entire album it’s from, End of Silence, and found the whole thing to my liking.
Note: You can listen in HD!

RED - Already Over:

Waa Wei - If

Pretty quintessentially Taiwanese pop style—laidback everything, some nice, slow strings and guitar stuff… I find it interesting that, at the beginning of the song, the singer’s voice sounds breathy and thin—a style that typically does not appeal to me—but as the song goes on the style of her singing and voice itself changes markedly into something I quite like.

Waa Wei A.K.A. 魏如萱 - IF:

Declan Bennett - Angels V. Demons

Oooooh, nice. I found this when I was looking for songs by this British artist.

Declan Bennett - Angels V. Demons:

Icon for Hire - Get Well

Tooooooooootally thought I already posted this song. But I didn’t, so I am now!
Note: Wow, I found a video in hi-def AND without spelling errors! It’s a miracle!

Icon for Hire - Get Well:

Vlad Sokolovskiyi - Ливни

I don’t know why I like this song so much, but I just do. DEAL WITH IT, OK?

Vlad Sokolovskiyi A.K.A. Влад Соколовский - Ливни [Livni - Rain Showers]:

Lee Seon Hwee - 인연

This is the theme song of the pretty (and unexpectedly record-breakingly successful) Korean movie The King and Clown. There are quite a few versions of this song, but this is the original Korean version. I was planning to post this song anyway, but I just came home from a dinner at which much of the conversation revolved around the word in the title of the song.  It must have been fate!  Har har.
Note: Woooo, HD!  (The video plays the song twice, I guess in case once wasn't enough?)

Lee Seon Hwee A.K.A. 이선희 - 인연 [Inyeon - Fate]:

Daughtry - It’s Not Over

I just got back from karaoke, wherein I sang this song for the first time. So I shall post it now! I always was impressed by this American Idol competitor’s rock vocals whenever I heard his songs on the radio.
Note: HD!

Daughtry - It’s Not Over:

Kalae All Day - 20 Kit Kats for the Riff Raff

I found out about this emcee through a YouTube video intending to introduce people to female hip hop artists OTHER than Nicki Minaj.
Note: This is the official MV, in HD!

Kalae All Day - 20 Kit Kats for the Riff Raff:

Letto - Sandaran Hati

Wow, I can’t believe I found this song in decent quality. This is one of my favorite songs from the album Truth, Cry, and Lie by the previously-posted Indonesian artist Letto. His music is so soothing.

Letto - Sandaran Hati [Back of the Heart]:

Sia - Breathe Me

Although this is the third song I’m posting by this quirky Australian artist, I think this is the most famous of her songs. A large part of its fame seems to be due to it being used as the music in the emotional finale of the excellent TV series Six Feet Under, and I even saw the artist’s music advertised in a music store as such (there was a big poster for her that said: “As heard in the finale of Six Feet Under!”), but since then I’ve also heard it used in like 3 different soap operas. (On a related note, whenever I see a list of the best TV finales ever, Six Feet Under is always at the top of the list.)
Note: Enjoy in HD!  But why is it impossible to EVER find a lyrics video with correct lyrics?

Sia - Breathe Me:

Nek - Laura no Está

I found this Italian artist by YouTube surfing for music. I like this dude’s voice. (Coincidentally, I find certain quirks of his singing style resemble those of the singer of the recently-posted band 30 Seconds to Mars.) Plus, I can understand this song because the lyrics are en español, not Italian!
Note: And you can listen in HD!

Nek - Laura no Está [Laura’s not Here]:

Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, and Vanéese Y. Thomas - The Gospel Truth

This is the intro song of the Disney movie Hercules. I wasn’t crazy about the music from this movie in general, but I really liked this and the other renditions of the same basic song, and they're easily my favorite songs from the soundtrack.

Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, and Vanéese Y. Thomas - The Gospel Truth:


Here’s the part of the movie in which the song is used:

30 Seconds to Mars - The Kill (Bury Me)

I’m mostly posting this song for the music video, which is blatantly modeled after the classic horror movie The Shining. I had read the book The Shining before seeing this music video, but it’s really the film that the music video is based on, and now that I’ve seen the film too I can appreciate it all the more.
Note: Unfortunately, the MV’s not in great quality, so I’m including just the song first, in HD.

30 Seconds to Mars - The Kill (Bury Me):


Here’s the music video:

DYA - Stai

Ever wondered what Romanian pop sounds like? Here you go! This isn’t amazing, but I think the artist’s voice is really good.

DYA - Stai [Stop]:

The Album Leaf - Vermillion

A lot of stuff by this artist sounds EXACTLY like Sigur Rós. Even the vocalist’s voice. It's honestly confusing. This song doesn’t sound like Sigur Rós, though.

The Album Leaf - Vermillion:

Florence + the Machine - Seven Devils

This might be my favorite song off this artist’s album Ceremonials. It just sounds so darn cool.
Note: HD listening available!

Florence + the Machine - Seven Devils:

Nell - Down

Despite this Korean artist being an indie rock band, this song is more trip-hop than rock. I’ve always liked the English lyrics of this song. Luckily, the video I’m posting also has an English translation of the Korean lyrics too! UNluckily, the video uploader has disabled embedding, so you gotta click on this link to get to it:

Nell - Down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGCpovIki_8

Ana Tijoux - La Bala

What an album opener. This is one of my favorite tracks from this Chilean artist’s album of the same name as this track.

Ana Tijoux - La Bala [The Bullet]:

Maher Zain - Assalamu Alayka

I found this artist through YouTube surfing. I’ve never heard a song by this artist that WASN’T explicitly a praise song, except for one that had baby sounds in it (no, thank you). His voice is so nice and I especially like this song.
Note: HD listening available! Plus: typography!

Maher Zain - Assalamu Alayka [Salutations]:

Leonora - La' Min Stemme

Here’s a dancey song I found whilst YouTube surfing for Danish music.

Leonora - La' Min Stemme [Let My Voice]:

Damien Rice - Cannonball

This is the first song I heard by this Irish artist. I think I heard it in a fanvideo and thought it was nice. His singing isn't perfect, but I think the lyrics are somewhat poetic and the melody gets stuck in my head really easily.
Note: HD availability!

Damien Rice - Cannonball:

Alejandra Robles - La Bruja

This Mexican artist got a powerful voice like whoa. I think I found out about her through a recommendation music column on a website.

Alejandra Robles - La Bruja [The Witch]:

Miyavi - ♂パパママ♀～望まれヌBaby～

This artist likes to try making music of different genres, which annoys some people but I kinda like the versatility.  This is a darker song than the ones I posted by this artist before. Despite much of his music falling under the broad label of “rock,” a lot of it’s quirky and upbeat. This, however, is clearly angsty and more typical of the genre, I suppose. As far as I can tell, it’s about a child raging about an unhappy home life. There is profanity in English, which is weird because most of the song is in Japanese. Go figure.

Miyavi A.K.A. 雅 - ♂パパママ♀～望まれヌBaby～ [Papa Mama ~Nozomare Nu Baby~ - Papa Mama ~Hoped-for New Baby~]:

TLC - If They Knew

Here’s another track from one of my most-listened-to albums, Fanmail, by this artist. I had it since I was a youngun’, hence its status as among my most-listened-to.

TLC - If They Knew:

Markéta Irglová & Glen Hansard - The Hill

I heard this slightly creepy song in a short film. It’s originally from the musical film Once, which I haven’t seen, but I guess these two music artists both wrote the music and starred in it. Playing a couple. And then they became a couple in real life. And then they broke up. But this song remains!
Note: HD available!

Markéta Irglová & Glen Hansard - The Hill:

Avan Lava - Sisters

I saw the music video for this song recommended on a website, and when I watched it I was so impressed by it that it became my current addiction. I’m quite fond of the song too, and I’d never even heard of the artist before. I can’t get over how good the MV is, so I’m including it too.
Note: The artist’s channel was kind enough to upload the track in HD!

Avan Lava - Sisters:


And here’s the official music video as well:

Гайтана - Самый лучший

Here’s Ukrainian pop with a little R&B flavor to it—something I haven’t heard much of.

Гайтана A.K.A. Gaitana - Самый лучший [Sameuyi Luchshiyi - The Very Best]:

Jo Yeong Wook - Cries and Whispers

This track is from the soundtrack of one of my favorite films, the (in)famous Oldboy. The music sets the tone of the film so perfectly, because it’s quirky, refined, and ominous all at once.
Note: Once again, HD!

Jo Yeong Wook A.K.A. 조영욱 - Cries and Whispers:

Kiroro - Winter Song

I found out about this Japanese artist through an mp3 rotation site forever ago. This is one of the songs I came across back then, and it seems appropriate to post now for obvious reasons.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Kiroro - Winter Song:

Eminem feat. Nate Dogg - Till I Collapse

I wanted to ring in the New Year with one of the most motivational hip hop songs I know of, from one of the most formative albums in my collection, The Eminem Show. It was the first hip hop album my mother allowed me to buy for myself, and you better believe I took full advantage of it by playing this friggin’ album nonstop. Even though I haven’t listened to it in years, I still have every song memorized. It’s Em, so obviously there’s profanity.
Note: Listen in HD for full motivational effect!

Eminem feat. Nate Dogg - Till I Collapse:

GJan - Not Afraid

I’ve been wondering when I would find some Lithuanian music that caught my attention! Turns out the answer is today, when I clicked on the music video for this song on YouTube’s related videos margin. The song has some profanity, BTW.
Note: Once again, you can listen in HD!

GJan - Not Afraid:

Ferhat Göçer - Yanına Kalmaz

I’ve been YouTube surfing for Turkish music a lot lately, and I just came across this track and liked it. I don’t know any Turkish, though, so if there’s a problem with the translation of the title I’d be happy to hear corrections.  (Wow, I only noticed as I was typing the tags for this post that I've never posted Turkish music here before!)
Note: You can listen in HD!

Ferhat Göçer - Yanına Kalmaz [Do Not Stay Close]:

Nan Quan Ma Ma - 槍與玫瑰

I’ve had this track for quite a long time, and I think I got it through an mp3 rotation site. I also think this is the only song by this Taiwanese artist that I really like.

Nan Quan Ma Ma A.K.A. 南拳媽媽 - 槍與玫瑰 [Qiang Yu Mei Gui - Guns & Roses]:

Diane Birch - A Strange Kind of Love

‘Tis just a random pretty song I came across on YouTube.
Note: Which has HD!

Diane Birch - A Strange Kind of Love:

Kendrick Lamar - F**k Your Ethnicity

I heard this on somebody’s Tumblr. The title of the song struck me as funny because it can be interpreted two ways: One, that he’s racist against you, and two, that he doesn’t care what race you are (which is kinda the opposite meaning). The intended meaning is the latter, but it turns out to have very little to do with the rest of the song. I suppose he’s suggesting the rest of the song can apply to anybody. (Obviously this track has profanity.) I’ve been hearing this guy is the future of hip hop so I plan to look into his work more soon.
Note: You can listen to the track in HD!

Kendrick Lamar - F**k Your Ethnicity:

Marina and the Diamonds - State of Dreaming

I found another song by this artist that I like! I ran across it on Tumblr.
Note: HD again!

Marina and the Diamonds - State of Dreaming:

The Piano Guys - Carol of the Bells

I already knew who this artist was (and have posted a song by them before), but I only heard this particular piece because the popular Korean pianist Yiruma posted this video on his Facebook recently. This is my favorite Christmas carol, and the cello is one of my favorite instruments, so I was excited about this.
Note: HD listening!

The Piano Guys - Carol of the Bells:

Celtic Woman - Níl Sé'n Lá

I think my mom might have an album by this Irish artist, but I’m not sure. Anyway, this festive song somehow seems appropriate for Christmas Eve.
Note: The video has the song in HD!

Celtic Woman - Níl Sé'n Lá [Not Yet Day]:

Stanislas - A D’Autres

I love this track, even though I didn’t really notice it the first few times I listened to this artist’s album. It goes through a series of stages as it progresses, and I think all of them sound beautiful, even when it turns all dance clubby near the end. BTW, I’m really unsure about the translation of the title, so it’d be nice if someone who knows French could help out with that.

Stanislas - A D’Autres [To the Others]:

Delilah - Go

Another song that was brought to my attention courtesy of the British soap Hollyoaks.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Delilah - Go:

Jeffrey Cheng - 我們真的都沒有失去嗎？

I think "heartwrenching" would be a good word to describe this piece. This was the music used in the trailer for the excellent Taiwanese film Eternal Summer. This piece is so intensely tragic that I immediately fell in love with it and not only went, “I HAVE to see this movie!" but also, "I HAVE to get this soundtrack!"
Note: There seems to be some MAJOR confusion out there as to who the composer is. I’ve seen at least 5 different names credited for the score, but I’m just going with the one.

Jeffrey Cheng - 我們真的都沒有失去嗎？ [Wo Men Zhen De Dou Mei You Shi Qu Ma? - Did We Really Not Lose Anything?]:

Luxuslärm - Solang es Noch Geht

Last time I posted music by this German artist, it was a pretty ballad, so this time I’m going with a more uptempo rock song by them. This style is more representative of their usual sound.

Luxuslärm - Solang es Noch Geht [As Long as It Still Goes]:

Quest Pistols - Разные

I came across the music video for this song on YouTube. Not gonna lie, I had no idea what it was supposed to be about, but I found the song REALLY good-sounding. According to my reading about this Ukrainian artist on Wikipedia, the group’s formation may have been an April Fool’s joke that turned into real success.

Quest Pistols - Разные [Razneuye - Different]:

Sinusstøv - For Whom the Bells Toll

I came across this Danish artist through YouTube. Everything I’ve heard by them is a little on the odd side, but not unpleasant.
Note: HD quality available!

Sinusstøv - For Whom the Bells Toll:

Hyde - Prayer

Although this artist is Japanese, he makes an effort to use English lyrics much of the time. His English can be pretty difficult to understand sometimes, but bless him, he tries. Growing up, I knew of this artist because he’s kinda Japanese rock 101, but when I started paying attention to his lyrics (both as a solo artist and in his uber-famous band L’Arc~en~Ciel), I noticed the recurring themes of criticizing war and religion. This song seems to combine both themes by being about a soldier fighting a war on what he believes to be on the side of God, but ultimately doubts the morality of this act. Alternatively, this could also be interpreted as being about suicide. Certain words led me to the former theory, but since he’s not a native English speaker it’s kinda hard to tell.

Hyde - Prayer:

Adele - Set Fire to the Rain

I think it’s about time for some more of this famous artist. I don’t have a particular reason, but this is one of my favorite songs by her.
Note: HD!

Adele - Set Fire to the Rain:

Tokio Hotel & Kerli - Strange

This collaboration consists of two gothy Europe-based artists, Kerli being from Estonia and the popular band Tokio Hotel from Germany. But the song’s in English, and I think it was used in the soundtrack of the recent American movie Alice in Wonderland.
Note: Available in HD!

Tokio Hotel & Kerli - Strange:

Han Hong & Sun Nan - 美丽的神话

This is the theme song of the Jackie Chan film The Myth. I’ve never watched the movie, but I've really liked this song for quite some time, especially Han Hong’s beautiful voice. This is also a karaoke favorite of mine!  (For your reference, the English version of the title is "Endless Love," even though this is not what the Chinese title translates to.)

Han Hong A.K.A. 韩红 & Sun Nan A.K.A. 孙楠 - 美丽的神话 [Mei Li De Shen Hua - Beautiful Myth]:

Marques Toliver - White Sails

Dang, I have a hard enough time playing piano and singing at the same time. I imagine playing violin while singing would be even more difficult. BUT that’s exactly what this artist was doing in the video of him performing live I came across recently.

Marques Toliver - White Sails:

Maki Yano - Honesty

I heard this groovy song through an mp3 rotation site I’m not even sure how long ago. I was impressed by this singer’s voice, which doesn’t sound characteristic of a lot of Japanese pop music.

Maki Yano A.K.A. 矢野 真紀 - Honesty:

Mr. J. Medeiros - Constance

Oh dang, I haven’t posted this hip hop song already! This can be filed under the subgenre “conscious hip hop,” as it deals with the issue of child trafficking, prostitution, and pornography. It lives up to its subgenre label in that it deliberately seeks to raise awareness of how people in the west can be complicit in fueling these problems in what might seem to be far away places like the Philippines. Needless to say, the content of the song could be considered disturbing, but it has a powerful message and led to the launch of an anti-human trafficking campaign called the I Am Constance Campaign.
Note: Listen in HD!

Mr. J. Medeiros - Constance:


You can watch the music video here:

Niyaz - Sosin

Lately I’ve been listening to this Iranian artist’s latest album, Sumud, and think I’ve ruled this to be my favorite track from it. While it was clear most of the tracks on the album are in Farsi or Urdu, I couldn’t place what language this was and finally had to look it up—it’s Kurdish! Not only is it the first album in which this artist attempted a song in Kurdish, it’s also the first time I’m posting a song in Kurdish.

Niyaz - Sosin:

JJ Lin - 跟屁蟲

This song is interesting. It’s this Singaporean artist railing against the lack of creativity in the music industry, in which everyone just copies everyone else and other artists copy his style, which I don’t know of firsthand but honestly wouldn’t surprise me. And he did do the autotune thing (selectively) before it really took off. He specifically references that in the part where he quotes his own previous song that implemented it (which I’ve posted here before, so you can get the reference!). And yes, that really is him speaking English with an Indian accent in the beginning.

JJ Lin A.K.A. 林俊傑 - 跟屁蟲 [Gen Pi Chong - Copycat]:

Tori Amos - Precious Things

I *think* this song is about the process of growing up and losing innocence. Or maybe just being haunted by bad memories that serve no purpose but to bring you down.  It’s not exactly family-friendly and kind of intense, but it’s one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists from a musical perspective.  I'm always in awe of her piano work!

Tori Amos - Precious Things:

René Aubry - Amnesie

I can’t remember exactly how I discovered this French artist, so I probably found him through YouTube surfing.

René Aubry - Amnesie:

Sarah McLachlan - Possession (Piano Version)

The legendary Sarah McLachlan! This artist has been a part of my life since I was little, since my mom is a fan of hers. I bought the album this song is on a whim one day a few years ago, and for some reason I really liked this song in particular.
Note: HD available!

Sarah McLachlan - Possession (Piano Version):

Linkin Park - My December

It is officially December, and I am in the midst of experiencing the onset of a “real” winter, so it is time to unleash this song! I had a hard time choosing between this, the original version, and Josh Groban’s cover of it. I ultimately chose this one because, although Josh Groban’s version is more epic-sounding, orchestrated, and, being by an opera singer, has more polished vocals, I actually prefer the more low-key, raw sound of this one.

Linkin Park - My December:

Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo - Bones

I came across this lusciously-instrumented track on YouTube some time ago.
Note: I recommend HD listening!

Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo - Bones:

In Extremo - Liam

German music with a Celtic twist!

In Extremo - Liam:

Cherry Filter - Snowman

It snowed on me for the first time this winter a couple days ago. I am in Korea. Therefore, I am posting this Korean snow-themed song. This is the first song I heard by this band, and I think I acquired it through an mp3 rotation site. Youjeen's whistle register is unreal!

Cherry Filter - Snowman:

Sodagreen - 小情歌

Qing Feng has the CUTEST voice, gah!! This song makes me super happy and it’s so adorable it’s frustrating. Naturally, this is the song that got me into this band in the first place. I even sang this at karaoke!
Note: I’m including the music video because it has HD plus an English translation of the lyrics!

Sodagreen A.K.A. 蘇打綠 - 小情歌 [Xiao Qing Ge - Little Love Song]: