The Birthday Massacre - Superstition

I came across this artist on YouTube somehow. I’m not that into their music, but this band has exactly the style that would appeal to one of my friends. I’m not sure why it’s one of my favorites of what I’ve heard by them, since it’s so static.
Note: HD quality is to be found heah!

The Birthday Massacre - Superstition:

Eisbrecher - Dornentanz

This German artist is a band that includes two former members of the band Megaherz, and to be honest I can’t really tell the difference between the two projects’ music. That probably has something to do with the fact that the Megaherz music I’m familiar with happens to be what they produced during the years when the aforementioned two members were active in Megaherz. Both bands’ songs (at least from the era I heard them) had an ominous sound to them, much like this track, even though it’s apparently… a love song of sorts?

 Eisbrecher - Dornentanz [Thorn Dance]:

London Grammar - Hey Now

Beeeeeeeeautiful. This is the opening to track to this artist’s excellent album If You Wait, and it completely sets the tone. I didn’t realize it was chosen as a single, but I’m glad it was. The video’s pretty cool and ghosty folklore-inspired. I like how her voice quality is kinda atypical.
Note: This official music video has HD!

London Grammar - Hey Now:

Buck-Tick - ドレス

Ooooh, this is the oldest (I think) song I’ve posted by this artist who’s still going, from all the way back in 1993. Evidently it was pretty popular at the time, too. They clearly cultivated a dark, gothy aesthetic back then that they’ve kept up to this day.
Note: Despite the song’s age, it’s available in HD quality!

Buck-Tick - ドレス [Doresu - Dress]:

Kaitlin Riegel - Silhouettes

It’s another song I heard on the US version of Shameless! It was at this point (the point at which I heard this song in the show, I mean) that I thought, “This show has an unexpectedly good soundtrack. Whoever’s in charge of finding and picking the music for it, well done.” I hadn’t heard of this artist before then, but it led me to look up more by her.
Note: Another with an HD quality upload!

Kaitlin Riegel - Silhouettes:

The Hat feat. Father John Misty & S.I. Istwa - Angry River

I recently finished season 1 of True Detective, and this song was used for the season finale ending theme. So many good finale songs… I haven’t heard of any of these artists, but I like the end product they created. Another track with a haunting sound! Also befitting of the series setting, the song has a southern sound to it.
Note: HD is available!

The Hat feat. Father John Misty & S.I. Istwa - Angry River:

Siouxsie Sioux & Brian Reitzell - Love Crime

This song was written for the dramatic series finale of the horror TV show Hannibal. The show’s creator was a fan of this artist and asked her to make a song in collaboration with the show’s own composer to be featured on the show, and behold, this track was born. Makes sense then that it’s so fitting for the series, and especially its ending scene for which this song was used! Its haunting tone and pulsating beat makes for contextual perfection and added to an already impressive scene.
Note: High quality audio for a high quality song!

Siouxsie Sioux & Brian Reitzell - Love Crime:

Jason Derulo - Cheyenne

Look how mainstream I’m being! I heard this song in a shop and wanted to Shazam it, only to realize I forgot to bring my phone. Anyway, I thought it was catchy and vaguely Michael Jackson-ish. The music video plays up this angle with some stylistic choices and dance moves so I guess this influence didn’t go unnoticed.
Note: This is the official music video, with HD! I’m using it ‘cause it fits the theme of this month while the song by itself doesn’t really.

Jason Derulo - Cheyenne:

Ella Henderson - The First Time

Hollyoaks does wonders for my British music collection. Reminds me of Leona Lewis, another success story whose career was catapulted by a singing competition show. This music artist has a fantastic voice who needs to be put on more fantastic songs. I had difficulty finding a track of hers that did much for me melody-wise but this one was the catchiest of the ones I heard.
Note: HD upload!

Ella Henderson - The First Time:

Darren Hayes - Neverland

This song is like… wow. I’ll try to restrain myself in going into all the ways this song is brilliant, from the production to the vocals to the lyrics, but let it suffice to say it’s told from the perspective of the artist himself when he was a child, and does a brilliant job of capturing the dark dichotomy of a thought process that is simultaneously innocent and violent, childlike and disturbed, upon witnessing his father abuse his mother. I suppose this warrants a trigger warning or something for domestic violence.
Note: Praise be for HD quality!

Darren Hayes - Neverland:

Tori Kelly - Unbreakable Smile

I heard this enterprising young artist through a YouTube video she did with Superfruit (two members of Pentatonix, the a cappella group whose music I’ve posted a few times). It was a mostly speaking video, but she let loose a little sampling of her vocals and I was instantly impressed. Her singing skills are the real deal and I hoped I’d be able to find official song releases by her. In that search, I came across this! The lyrics are so obviously from her honest self and outline her career goals and outlook on life. The lyrics seem almost stream of consciousness, but I like that it’s a deviation from the norm. I like its positivity and sincerity as well.
Note: This is the official (one-take!) music video, with HD quality!

Tori Kelly - Unbreakable Smile:

Lebo M., Maxi Anderson, Max Ngcobo, Khanyo Maphumulo, Khululiwe Sithole, and Rose Stone - He Lives in You

I just saw the live musical production of The Lion King, FINALLY. It reminded me of how much I love the movie and the music. The show included a number of songs that aren’t in the movie but that I knew because they were included on a “followup” CD I owned of music inspired by the movie called Rhythm of the Pride Lands. I may have been even more obsessed with it than the official soundtrack, because the songs are so beautiful and moving. Many implement choirs, African instruments, and non-English languages. This was one of my favorite songs from it, and I’m honestly surprised I haven’t posted this before.
Note: You can listen in HD!

Lebo M., Maxi Anderson, Max Ngcobo, Khanyo Maphumulo, Khululiwe Sithole, and Rose Stone - He Lives in You:

Melanie Martinez - Mrs. Potato Head:

Man, this artist is really growing on me lately. My friend who's a big fan recommended this song in particular to me and let me have a listen. The melody doesn't sound radically different from her others, but I really appreciated this song for its lyrics. It criticizes our culture of emphasizing physical attractiveness in women & girls, especially for the pressure it puts on young girls to alter their appearance, and imposing unreasonable beauty standards that encourage fakeness. Like a Potato Head doll, faces end up being plastic composites of manufactured features that are the same because they're "acceptable", homogenizing the population's appearance.
Note: HD quality is available!

Melanie Martinez - Mrs. Potato Head:

Glen Campbell - I’m Not Going to Miss You

This is one of the most conceptually sad songs I’ve ever heard. I actually didn’t know who this country music star of years past was until fairly recently, when his songs were played (and deconstructed) on the podcast The Todd Glass Show. This song was among those played and explained. The artist wrote it after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and the lyrics are clearly written in light of that harsh reality. Through them, he expresses gratitude for the bittersweet expectation that he won’t have to undergo the more painful aspects of love because he won’t love his loved ones, or even know them, anymore.
Note: This is the official music video, with HD!

Glen Campbell - I’m Not Going to Miss You:

Lavika - Вечный рай

Despite my dislike of the saxophone, I like this song. I found it by YouTube surfing. At first it sounds like likeable pop dance music, but as the song continues it grows on me more and more. So sue me!

Lavika A.K.A. Лавика - Вечный рай [Bechneuyi Rayi - Eternal Paradise]:

Huang Yida - 一秒的安慰

Wowwwwwwwww, this song! I’ve known it for years but had all but forgotten about it! I even know the lyrics and how to play it on the piano. I think it’s the first song I heard by this artist, whom one of my friends introduced me to the music of years ago. This song is apparently from the Taiwanese drama Devil Beside You, which I’ve never seen.

Huang Yida A.K.A. 黃義達 - 一秒的安慰 [Yi Miao De An Wei - A Moment of Consolation]:

The Secret Sisters - Iuka

I heard this song playing before a concert that I recently worked. It’s yet another country song with a dark flourish. Like many other country songs, it also has a linear narrative format, which is kinda cool. Gotta love that fiddle for the little sprinklings of intensity, too.
Note: I had a hard time finding this song at all, but when I did it had HD!

The Secret Sisters - Iuka:

Sticky Fingaz feat. Eminem - What If I Was White?

I hope you like irreverent humor. If not, you probably won’t enjoy this hip hop song that banks on racial stereotypes. Of course, part of the joke is that the song features an artist whose whiteness has always been a topic of much conversation. Naturally, in its humor it touches on a sociopolitical commentary about the state of being a black man in the U.S., and applies some subversiveness by turning the lens onto whiteness.

Sticky Fingaz feat. Eminem - What If I Was White?:

The Internet - Just Sayin

This song appeals to my vindictive side, and I’m relating to the song a bit lately. This artist is kinda like The Weeknd—if you ignore the lyrics, we all good. Her voice is like Jhené Aiko’s, enticingly sweet without even trying. If profanity in song lyrics bothers you you might want to skip this one.
Note: HD quality is goooood!

The Internet - Just Sayin:

Submersed - Life Without You

I listened to only a handful of songs by this artist, at most, a matter of years ago and then didn’t look much further. Recently, though, I decided to revisit their music and listened to this and some other songs of theirs. Their signature is the singer’s nice falsetto, so I chose another song where it’s showcased a bit. It also features a brief section where he sings in a lower register than usual—variety within one song!

 Submersed - Life Without You:

Ruelle - Take It All

I heard this in the trailer for The Leftovers. It seems like this artist may be the new go-to person for moody music to accompany similarly moody shows. Purty.
Note: Dude, sweet HD.

Ruelle - Take It All:

Thomas Newman - The Piano Duet

This understated little piano piece comes from one of my favorite films, Road to Perdition. The first time I watched the film, which was when I was rather young, I went on a fervent search to find the sheet music to this piece shortly afterward. I had to have it. I think I didn’t actually find it until years later, but I felt victorious nonetheless.

Thomas Newman - The Piano Duet:


The movie scene with the duet is here:

Ayako Ikeda - 白いギフト

This artist has a voice with one of the purest sounds I’ve ever heard. So nice I can hardly stand it! Those high notes are what signaled her a winner in my book the first time I heard her, which was through the previous song I posted by her. After that, I acquired her album Lunar Soup and found her voice to be unfalteringly pretty.

Ayako Ikeda A.K.A. 池田 綾子 - 白いギフト [Shiroi Gifuto - White Gift]:

Michael Bublé - Cry Me a River

I’ve known of this artist for many years, as have many people, because for some reason despite not performing a genre of music that’s mainstream these days, he’s managed to garnered mainstream name recognition. This song, too, is well-known since the 1950s and has been covered by many artists over the years. I think the version I’ve heard most is Ella Fitzgerald’s, for whom it was originally written. I heard this cover only a few weeks ago in a restaurant and liked it primarily for its instrumentation. Snazzy and bold!
Note: You can listen in HD!

Michael Bublé - Cry Me a River:

Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat

I wasn’t feeling this artist as much as everyone else seemed to, but I heard this song playing at a concert during the waiting period and I looked it up immediately. It’s from the soundtrack of one of the The Hunger Games movies, none of which I’ve seen. It is kinda cool that an artist from New Zealand has a viable career in the U.S., and her songs have unconventional lyrics for pop music.
Note: HD quality is here!

Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat:

Passenger - David

I worked at a concert for this artist the other night. Prior to that, I think I’d only heard one song by him, his big hit “Let Her Go,” and thought it was all right. I’m glad I stayed for his full show, because I liked the other songs he performed more. This might have been my favorite, and that’s not even including the pretty strings in this version, because his live performance only involved him and his acoustic guitar. Normally the voice is the standout feature of music to me, but with him it was his poetic lyrics and instrumentals that impressed me. His guitaring was beautiful and although it was the only instrument in the show it filled the room. He came across as another of those mild-mannered British dudes filled with cynicism, which people seem to love. He also swore a lot and a tiny bit of that found its way into this song. He explained that he wrote it about a homeless man who hung out outside a hostel and told the artist his life story.
Note: Lovely in HD!

Passenger - David:

Dido - Take My Hand

Part of this song plays in my head randomly sometimes, and until now I couldn’t remember what it was from. OMG! This has been going on for years, and I haven’t listened to the best-selling album this song is on, No Angel, in ages, but when I was a kid I played it tons of times so I guess that’s what stuck it in my head so permanently that it surfaces in my mind with a surprising degree of frequency. I also didn’t realize that this artist authored this and many other songs herself along with her brother as a song-writing/producing duo.

 Dido - Take My Hand:

I-Wayne feat. Lady G - Jealousy and Abuse

It’s surprisingly difficult to tell apart the two artists’ voices in this song. The song title is a pretty literal description of the also-literal lyrics, which are about unhealthy relationships. It’s a pretty catchy tune for such a downer of a topic.
Note: HD upload acquired!

I-Wayne feat. Lady G - Jealousy and Abuse:

Tasha Reid - 검은 행복

Even though I knew of this emcee who dominates the Korean hip hop landscape for a while, I didn’t know she was half-Black. In Korea, where her career is based, that really means something. This song is about the discrimination she faced growing up in Korea and how she overcame the internalized racism through her love of music.
Note: Weird; I was struggling to find this song available in even decent quality, and then somehow found this in HD.

Tasha Reid A.K.A. 윤미래 - 검은 행복 [Keomeun Haengbok - Black Happiness]:


Here’s the music video with English subtitles, albeit poor ones:

Shawn Mendes - Something Big

This artist is another of those young up-and-coming pop stars. I came across his music through YouTube surfing, and first stumbled across one of his music videos, which was kind of interesting. Turns out it was the work of a music video director whose videos I’ve posted numerous times before, as I tend to like his videos. Anyway, this singer has a nice voice and his songs are very radio-friendly. I almost feel like he’s going for an Ed Sheeran sound in some of his songs.
Note: This upload has HD!

Shawn Mendes - Something Big:

Péter Szabó Szilvia - Soha ne Mondd

Finally, some Hungarian pop! I came across this artist through YouTube surfing. She collaborated on some music with a Polish artist I was looking up the music of. It seems like this artist is really popular in her home country.
Note: This is the official music video, with HD quality!

Péter Szabó Szilvia - Soha ne Mondd [Never Say]:

Blueneck - Lilitu

Whoa. I wasn’t intending to find a song like this. I was YouTube surfing for relaxing instrumental progressive rock-type music so that I could concentrate on my work, but after a bit of clicking on the Related Videos on YouTube I was led to this. I assumed it would be more of the same, but instead it captivated my attention thanks to the vocals and strings. It reminds me of some music composed by Yoko Kanno, and not just because the artist’s voice resembles Scott Matthew’s.

Blueneck - Lilitu:

Sara Tavares - Só d’Imagina

This song is so calm and yet so pretty! I think the lyrics are in a Portuguese creole, but I haven’t found confirmation of this and I don’t know if there’s an official name for it, so I’m just gonna put down the language as Portuguese, as I did for the previous song of hers that I posted.
Note: HD quality is available!

Sara Tavares - Só d’Imagina [Only of Imagination]:

JJ Lin - 第二天堂

I went to an Asian dessert place today and shortly after I came in they started playing a bunch of songs by this artist. I got excited because, although he’s one of my favorites, I hadn’t listened to him in a while and had practically forgotten about him. He’s ridiculously prolific, releasing an album almost every day since his career’s inception, so it’s hard to keep up with all his music. I decided to go with a song from one of his earlier albums for this post, because I think I’ve never posted a song from it before. I think this song was used to promote a video game, hence the war sounds that occur partway through the song.

JJ Lin A.K.A. 林俊傑 - 第二天堂 [Di Er Tian Tang - Second Heaven]:

P!NK - Stupid Girls

This artist, a longtime idol of mine, has floated into my periphery multiple times within the past 2 days, and I’m taking that as a sign: it’s time to post a song of hers again. Today she was a trending topic because in light of the recent VMA ceremony she criticized the state of today’s most visible music, calling it ”trash” that “won’t save any kid’s life.” That loudmouth, brash attitude is part of what I love so much about her, and I have to say I’m mostly in agreement with her. Fun fact, related to another recent post: Kelly Clarkson said P!NK’s voice is the best of our generation. This song may or may not be related to the kind of thing she was complaining about in regard to the VMAs… It encourages girls to be trailblazers and aim for intelligence, rather than relegating themselves to a position of servitude and desperate approval-seeking through their appearance and objectification. The lyrics have profanity and mature content.

P!NK - Stupid Girls:


Here’s the official music video, which illustrates the song’s meaning with some specific, unsubtle celebrity examples:

Wordsworth - What We Gon’ Do

One of my favorite hip hop albums is this artist’s Mirror Music. This song is about how life can get overwhelming sometimes. The world is full of problems we don’t have solutions to, and the weight of it all, especially when the problems are taken into account all at once, can discourage and exhaust you in inaction. The lazy beat makes me feel like it’s a sluggish, demotivatingly hot day, and instills a sensation of lassitude reflective of the song’s defeatist tone in the face of the daunting task of addressing all the problems. It’s tiring to even think about, so people tend to sit back and accept them, waiting for someone else to answer the question of what to do, so long as no solutions readily present themselves. They find it easier to make excuses for their inaction or shy away from their issues.

 Wordsworth - What We Gon’ Do:

Kelly Clarkson - Piece by Piece

More mainstream music! I recently attended a concert of this mega artist, and she performed this song, which I’d never heard before. It was touching in its personal meaning, and Kelly got choked up a few times while singing it, saying, “I shouldn’t have gone on tour while pregnant!” This song title was the name of her tour, so she HAD to perform it. She did a stripped down, acoustic version live, which I prefer over this version, but oh well. She has some harsh words for her father in this track, comparing him to her partner as a man and herself as a parent.
Note: This is the official upload of the song, with HD!

Kelly Clarkson - Piece by Piece:

Ne-Yo - Closer

This song is suuuper mainstream and everybody knows it, but I’m posting it anyway because I LIKE IT. The chorus gets so stuck in my head and I just can’t stop, I just can’t stop…
Note: This lyrics video has HD quality.

Ne-Yo - Closer:

Mia Wray - Where I Stand

I heard this artist through a cover she performed, which was used in an AMV. I was disarmed by how effortlessly perfect yet raw her voice is, so I looked up her other stuff. I was delighted to see she had ample original songs.
Note: I suggest experiencing this in HD!

Mia Wray - Where I Stand:

James Blake - Retrograde

For fans of Sam Smith. Everything about this song made me think it could easily be a Sam Smith song. But nope, it’s a different British singer/songwriter guy. I was looking for a totally different song that I heard in a TV show trailer, but in my search wound up discovering this one instead. I’ll take it! Actually, now I realize that I heard of this artist before, through a YouTube recommendation or something.
Note: HD listening is available!

James Blake - Retrograde:

Aneela feat. Arash - Chori Chori

My friend was playing this song in his car. I like how it combines Pakistani and Persian music styles, with each vocalist singing in the language of her/his heritage. PLOT TWIST: although the lyrics are in Urdu and Farsi, the artists are Danish and Swedish, respectively.
Note: HD, yo!

Aneela feat. Arash - Chori Chori [Secretly]:

Steve Conte - Heaven’s Not Enough

Two songs in a row from an anime! This time from the series Wolf’s Rain, which I did watch in its entirety years ago, but I heard this song long before that because it’s composed by the famed anime composer Yoko Kano. I listened to a lot of her soundtrack music without having seen the series it accompanied because knowing it was by her WAS enough. She worked with this artist, the singer and lyricist, frequently, but oddly I don’t think I’ve posted a song by him before. If this song doesn’t leave a hollow feeling in your soul I don’t know what will.
Note: Getcher HD while you can!

Steve Conte - Heaven’s Not Enough:

Egoist - 名前のない怪物

I just finished watching the Psycho-Pass movie, right after finishing seasons 1 and 2 of the popular anime series. This song is the ending theme for season 1 as well as the movie, and although I liked it when I heard it at the end of every episode in season 1 of the series, it wasn’t until I heard the full version used in the ending credits of the movie that I really appreciated it. It has so many parts to like! It also suits the series/movie well in that it manages to be understated and restrained yet energetic and fast-paced, contemplative yet action-packed.

Egoist - 名前のない怪物 [Namae no Nai Kaibutsu - Nameless Monster]:

Killer Mike feat. Emily Panic & Chamillionaire - Anywhere But Here

I didn’t look into this artist for the longest time because the main association I made with him was to Bone Crusher’s music video “Never Scared,” which was ridiculous. Turns out he’s a smart dude, and has political music! Didn’t see that one coming. This hip hop song is about the troubles that plague inner city communities (particularly Atlanta and New York City), driving many who grow up there to feel the need to escape. It points out the irony of the communities that seem like they would be most welcoming to Black Americans in that they’re highly populated by them being among the worst places for Black Americans to live. Love the Langston Hughes reference thrown in there.
Note: Found an upload with HD!

Killer Mike feat. Emily Panic & Chamillionaire - Anywhere But Here:

Automatic Loveletter - Let It Ride

I might find the inflection in Juliet’s voice annoying at times if it weren’t for that raspiness and skill. I really like the power behind her delivery, too, always putting 100% into it. I also found out recently that she competed on The Voice some years ago. Listening to this song made me go, “Yeah, I can hear how that would happen.” This one is packed full of energy right out the gate.
Note: HD quality is to be found here!

Automatic Loveletter - Let It Ride:

Alt-J - Bloodflood Pt. 2

The title’s kinda gross, but I liked this song when I listened through the artist’s latest album. It reminds me a lot of music by Icelandic artists like Ásgeir and Sigur Rós, but they’re British. This confusion goes so far as to me not recognizing the lyrics as being in English—my brain apparently expects Icelandic, and so it sounds--unless I consciously remind myself and pay attention. Even then, the words sound accented and still could be mistaken (in my mind) for being of Scandinavian origin.
Note: This upload has HD!

Alt-J - Bloodflood Pt. 2:

Sarah Jaffe - Under

That is some dirrrrrrty production. This song has a pretty different sound from that of the other songs I’ve heard by this artist. Her other songs have a more delicate, ethereal touch to them. This ends up sounding almost country Western-ish, and I like its aggressive, indignant tone. Some strings are thrown in there for good measure.
Note: HD listening is available!

Sarah Jaffe - Under:

Johnnyswim - You & I

I worked at a concert the other night and this artist was the opening act. I didn’t know who they were, but from first notes they sang in their acoustic set I wanted to. I was impressed and knew I was in for a great performance. In short, they kilt it. The duo consists of a married couple, and announced to the audience that they recently had a child, who I imagine will be similarly talented.
Note: You can take advantage of the HD upload!

Johnnyswim - You & I:

Sam Smith - Good Thing

This young artist pulled a Frank Ocean, garnering recognition and critical acclaim before even releasing his first album, then announcing immediately prior to its release that his debut album is inspired by his first love, a man. Also as with Frank Ocean, people accused this move as being a strategic attention grab, but he really didn’t need it because his talent speaks for itself. At his live show that I attended, he cracked, “People think all the songs on my album were written about the same person. That’s not true; only 5 songs were about the same person!” I’m fairly certain I know which 5 those are (hint: they’re the friendzone anthems), and this is one of them. Those Disney-esque strings are a little distracting but this song is still one of the earwormiest on the record, and as one of the earliest tracks on it reassured me during my first listen-through of the album, “Oh, this is gonna be good.”
Note: That’s right, HD!

Sam Smith - Good Thing:

Bea Miller - Fire N Gold

Who accuses me of not liking any pop? This sounds pretty poppy to me, and I liked it the first time I heard it. This is one of them newfangled young lady stars, whose fame is ushered in by TV exposure. She competed on the U.S. version of the singing competition show The X Factor, which I didn't watch, so I found her through YouTube surfing, or maybe an ad or something?
Note: This is the official lyrics video, with HD!

Bea Miller - Fire N Gold:

Thomas Azier - Verwandlung

I came across this artist while YouTube surfing. I listened to a handful of his songs, and in this one his vibrato reminds me of Antony Hegarty’s. For whatever reason, he sounded pretty different to me in his other songs and I didn’t care for those as much, but I didn’t hate them either. His music sounds akin to a lot of music I hear coming out of the U.K. these days, but the artist is Dutch.

Thomas Azier - Verwandlung [Transformation]:

Kacey Musgraves - Blowin’ Smoke

This song is about people’s tendency to talk a big game about how they’re going to change their lives and leave their stagnant pasts and habits behind, but in reality they are resigned to the patterns they’ve fallen into and aren’t willing to put in the effort to follow through with their plans. Not only that, but they may even resent the few who manage to get out like they said they would. More skilled songwriting from this young country artist (this is another song she wrote with Shane Mack, whose music I’ve posted before), and the lazy, drawling instrumental conveys the hopelessness of the situation very well, and is almost enough to de-motivate you from taking action yourself!
Note: I fixed you up with some of that good HD!

Kacey Musgraves - Blowin’ Smoke:

Wisin feat. Jennifer Lopez & Ricky Martin - Adrenalina

It’s kinda funny that this song features two artists who were huge when I was a kid… and they’re still at it! Since my friend and I have been bingeing on music from our childhoods lately, including songs by Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin from that period, it only seems appropriate that I should post a modern song they both are in. When I ran across this song I noticed that both of them have managed to stay somewhat relevant, apparently, by updating their style to adapt to the current climate of pop music. It doesn’t sound dated and can easily fit in with the rest of the club music.
Note: The song has hi-def calidad!

Wisin feat. Jennifer Lopez & Ricky Martin - Adrenalina [Adrenaline]:

FictionJunction - 時の向こう 幻の空

Right off the bat, I could tell this artist was a Yuki Kajiura outfit. They sang the opening theme of an anime series I watched and it was immediately identifiable as the work of the famous anime composer. As for the performers, they’re a talented group of singers, and part of why I chose this song by them if because all 4 get a chance to shine.

FictionJunction - 時の向こう　幻の空 [Toki no Mukou, Maboroshii no Sora - Beyond Time, Sky of Illusions]:

Ásgeir - Heimförin

This song is from the most popular Icelandic debut album, which is supposedly owned by 10% of the country’s population. Even though the artist is a songwriter, the lyrics are written by the performer’s father.
Note: This is a pretty lyrics video with HD!

Ásgeir - Heimförin [Going Home]:

The Internet feat. Kaytranada - Girl

A friend told me she was recommended this artist by her BF, and asked if I’d heard of them. Of course, I had to look them up upon my answer being no, and discovered that I recognized some of the members of the group as being from an artist I definitely had heard of, the hip hop collective Odd Future. This was the first song I heard by them. At first I just thought it was all right, but with a couple more listens I found myself liking it more. One thing that didn’t need time and replays to grow on me, though, was Syd the Kid’s voice, which I liken to syrup. I’d heard of her before through her work in Odd Future, but I didn’t know she sounded like this. There's some profanity.
Note: HD listening is available!

The Internet feat. Kaytranada - Girl:

Damien Jurado - Sheets

The other night I worked at a concert at which this artist was the opening act. He told the audience people have said he has two types of music: sad and sadder, but you don’t see me complaining. Based on what I heard at the concert, that about sums it up. This song is an example of that!

Damien Jurado - Sheets:

Hwayobi feat. Park Hyo Shin - 가시

I came across this artist through YouTube surfing for K-pop. This artist got her career start in the era when I started listening to K-pop, but somehow I missed her music until now. I like K-pop from the 2000s more than K-pop from the 2010s, so it’s not surprising that I liked her stuff from then. She’s got quite a voice on her, too!
Note: Oh, hey, HD quality!

Hwayobi A.K.A. 박화요비 feat. 박효신 A.K.A. Park Hyo Shin - 가시 [Kashi - Thorn]:

John Legend - If You’re Out There

I’ve always appreciated this artist’s distinctive voice and piano-based music, even when I hadn’t heard many songs by him. I’m not sure how I found out about him, but I’ve known who he is for years. This song is a call to action, not for a specific cause, but for whatever cause you happen to believe in—the point is you should do something about it if you feel strongly about the betterment of the world.

John Legend - If You’re Out There:

Melanie Martinez - Soap

I guess I’m liking this artist’s newer music. This is the second song in a row I’ve heard from her new album, and I’ve liked both. I can’t say the songs on her previous album had the same effect. Wow, she really carries the song’s central metaphor through to the end. Her singing style is so understated and unassuming I find it hard to believe she got her start in fame through a singing competition show, The Voice.
Note: ‘Tis an upload in HD!

Melanie Martinez - Soap:

Maverick Sabre - Let Me Go

Oh, heyyyyyy, it’s another artist who deserves more recognition (and maybe in the near future will get it??). You should be bumpin’ thisssssssssss! His music is catchy and classy and has heart. This song samples a song by Portishead, whom I’ve posted before and probably should post again…
Note: This lyrics video has HD!

Maverick Sabre - Let Me Go:

Troi - Sacrifice

Sometimes when I listen to this artist I almost think I’m listening to Imogen Heap. This song seems to have a sort of hippyish, new agey meaning, but I’m down with that. I like the line, “We belong to the night, not the lights we give ourselves.” I’m eagerly awaiting hearing more music by her, but it looks like she’s still working on building up her repertoire. She has it all: the voice, the production, the lyrics—all of her own doing. This makes her possibly my favorite “undiscovered” new artist. Get in on this, people!

Troi - Sacrifice:

Blue Scholars - Yuri Kochiyama

This is the track that led me (and many others, I’m sure) to look up the song’s namesake, and subsequently feel disappointed in myself for not knowing her before. There’s some profanity and politics, as the person this is about is an activist.

Blue Scholars - Yuri Kochiyama:

Ayo - Wouldn’t It Be Better

This is probably the most lushly produced song I’ve heard by this artist. It still has an overall acoustic feel, though. She has a lot of social consciousness-themed tracks, but this one seems to simply be about a breakup. Purdy!

Ayo - Wouldn’t It Be Better:

Greg Holden - Hold On Tight

Ah, the ol’ pay it forward concept! Not terribly deep lyrics, but that’s okay because the easily-reached message is a nice one. That’s interesting that the video is the standout feature to me, too, because at the beginning of it I recognized the director’s name from the excellent Macklemore & Ryan Lewis MVs. In an odd coincidence, he also directed a music video for an underground hip hop artist I almost posted music by today instead. I found this artist through YouTube surfing.
Note: This official music video has HD!

Greg Holden - Hold On Tight:

Michelle Chamuel - Golden

This is a nice little ditty, and is aligned with her stated goal to perform electronica-type music. Good for her!! I, like many others, developed a fondness for this artist when she competed on The Voice as a somewhat unconventional pop star. Root for the underdog!

 Michelle Chamuel - Golden:

Hyde - Oasis

This groovy song is one of my favorites from this artist’s first solo album, Roentgen. Like a lot of Japanese music, the lyrics are a mixture of Japanese and English, but this has a higher ratio of English than is usual. His English pronunciation is pretty bad, but for some reason a lot of his songs are in English. I’ll allow it!

Hyde - Oasis:

Sick of Sarah - Bittersweet

When I was looking into music by this artist a few months ago, I came across this song, and although it wasn’t the most dynamic the melody stood out to me. I dunno, mayne, but it sounds nice!
Note: I could only find this song in decent quality in the official music video, but it fortunately has HD!

Sick of Sarah - Bittersweet:

*NSYNC - Pop

I give, I give! The past couple weeks, my friend and I have noticed we’re being bombarded by stuff related to the popular music of our childhoods, especially boy bands. This triggered discussions about those boy bands, and although I was never a big fan of any of them I named this song as one that I liked from that era of boy band music, and probably the one I liked most, in fact.

 *NSYNC - Pop:

Yuna - Fading Flower

BURN. This song calls out that type of person who gets by on her looks but needs serious improvement in personality. It points out that physical beauty is temporary so if that’s all you have going for you you don’t intimidate this artist. The melody even has a mocking tone to it, like a comeback to a “mean girls”-esque bully.
Note: Eyyy, some HD here!

Yuna - Fading Flower:

CunninLynguists - Time (What Is It?)

This song sometimes starts playing in my head, and I’m not complaining. It’s a great example of this artist’s tendency to create hip hop music that’s strong on all fronts: original concept, catchy production, and impressive lyrical technique. Not long ago, I saw an infographic constructed to illustrate the results of a study on how many unique words different hip hop artists use, sorted by region of origin. Guess who was far and away the wordiest of southern hip hop artists, and one of the wordiest overall. These guys!

 CunninLynguists - Time (What Is It?):

Annie Lennox - Walking on Broken Glass

This song is a classic! I probably heard it when I was a kid, but I don’t have a particular memory tied to it. I didn’t realize until it was played on an episode of the podcast The Todd Glass Show that it’s by this famous artist, whose name I’ve heard many a time. I’ve always liked this song (although admittedly I didn’t pay that much attention to it before), which is notable because it’s not often I dig a song recorded in the early 90s. Such a bouncy sound for a song about heartbreak!
Note: It’s from 1992, but it has HD!

Annie Lennox - Walking on Broken Glass:

IAMX - I Come with Knives

I think this is my favorite song off the album The Unified Field. I listened to it a number of times, and then was excited to hear it (among a lot of other songs by the same artist) used prominently on a show I really like, How to Get Away with Murder. I showed my friend the TV series, and he fell in love with both the series and the song. Upon discovering that I had the song in my mp3 player, he made me play it on repeat in his car during our road trip so now I’m more familiar with the song than I ever wanted to be. Still like it, though!
Note: HD recommended, of course!

IAMX - I Come with Knives:

Elif - Du Kannst Mir Nichts

I found this German artist by YouTube surfing not long ago. It kinda sounds like she gets tired while singing, but overall her stuff is still pleasant enough. She has nice, soft, pretty songs, but this one has a tiny bit of grit infused into it. This is probably the coolest-sounding song I’ve heard by her.
Note: Even though it was hard for me to find most of her songs in good quality, this one had HD!

Elif - Du Kannst Mir Nichts [You Can Do Nothing for Me]:

Tim Minchin - Pope Song

Probably the most profane song I’ve ever posted or ever will post… But right within the lyrics of this song the artist/comedian makes a compelling point about being offended at the profanity. I don’t want to give too much away, as part of the song’s impact comes from not knowing ahead of time what he's going to say, but it in a nutshell calls out the Pope for his role in some of the Catholic Church’s most publicized scandals, and is therefore probably offensive to you if you don't want to hear about those scandals or are a fan of the Pope he's referring to. This song was written during the reign of the previous Pope, BTW, not the current, popular one.

 Tim Minchin - Pope Song:


Here’s a live performance, my first introduction to the song:

Jess Glynne - Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself

The melody of this song is nothing special and the genre’s not my favorite, but the lyrics have a message that a lot of people could afford to hear once in a while. It helps that the artist’s voice is delicious, too. I got to know her through her work as a featured vocalist of songs for Clean Bandit.

Jess Glynne - Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself:

Gackt - Freesia ~Op. 2~

Welcome to almost 2 minutes of musical intensity, brought to you by uber-famous Japanese pop/rock act, Gackt. The dude is a pretty eccentric character, but as a multi-instrumentalist and composer he has the talent to back it up. I think it’s pretty cool that he excels in a variety of genres, as evident in this song.

 Gackt - Freesia ~Op. 2~:

Chlöe Howl - Rumour

I found this artist through YouTube surfing a little bit after this song came out. I’m still waiting for a song whose catchiness is worthy of her stellar voice, but until then songs like this, which are pleasant enough but not amazing, will do.
Note: This is the official MV, with HD!

Chlöe Howl - Rumour:

Seven Lions feat. Kerli - Keep It Close

It’s another collaboration between these two artists. This one I heard today when I was watching the Netflix series Sense8. I didn’t recognize the artists, although I kinda felt like I should have since I was already familiar with their music.
Note: Unsurprisingly, this track is uploaded in HD!

Seven Lions feat. Kerli - Keep It Close:

Markéta Irglová - Without a Map

I like the composition of this song. In an album full of pretty tracks, this was still a standout. The song’s lyrics definitely have a religious slant (most obvious when the choir starts singing "The Lord’s Prayer"), but I’m a little unclear on the intention since when I saw her perform live she talked about being nonreligious. Maybe that changed, or maybe the song’s from another person’s perspective? Clearly she holds religiosity in reverence one way or another.
Note: The song is uploaded in HD, thankfully!

Markéta Irglová - Without a Map:

DBSK feat. The TRAX & BoA - Tri-Angle

This is one of the first songs I heard by the once-popular boy band DBSK, and it cemented my appreciation of them despite their status as a “boy band.” They can sing, and the grandiosity of this song won me over. I like both the featured artists, too. Rock isn’t exactly a popular genre in Korea, so I appreciated The TRAX’s inclusion in the track all the more. BoA is a pop princess but she sounds a little more epic than usual and it made me appreciate her more than before, too. Go everybody!
Note: HD quality with romanized lyrics!

DBSK A.K.A. 동방신기 feat. The TRAX & BoA - Tri-Angle:

Joss Stone - Last One to Know

This British artist has a soulful voice I really like, but I have trouble finding songs by her that do much for me. I don’t dislike them; they just don’t stand out to me. Me knowing this song is the result of me going out of my way to hunt down one of hers that stood out.

Joss Stone - Last One to Know:

Avicii feat. Salem Al Fakir - Silhouettes

It seems like this Swedish artist is everywhere. My liking of their music largely depends on the guest singer, but this song is an exception. The singing didn’t do it for me, but the music video is a winner.
Note: Watch in HD for a better listening & viewing experience!

Avicii feat. Salem Al Fakir - Silhouettes:

Jocelyn Alice & Right the Stars - So Groovy (Reach Out of the Darkness)

This song isn’t really the type of thing I normally like, but for some reason it stuck with me. It was played a few times on The Todd Glass Show, and since then it has hardly left my head. It sounds 1960s, but it’s actually a recent cover of a 1960s song, “Reach Out of the Darkness” by Friend & Lover.
Note: Hey, hey, HD!

Jocelyn Alice & Right the Stars - So Groovy (Reach Out of the Darkness):

Black Cats - جون خودت

I heard this song when a DJ at a Persian restaurant played it. It instantly sounded familiar because the intro instrumental and lyrical pattern is lifted right from the song “Culo” by Pitbull. The titular word was even replaced by the similar-sounding phrase “gush kon” (English: listen). I may have heard this version before the DJ because one of my friends said he has a video of his father in Iran dancing to this song, and he shows me his family videos a lot.

Black Cats A.K.A. بلک کتس - جون خودت [Jooneh Khodet - On Your Life]:

Lisa Hannigan - Safe Travels

This slightly dark and almost humorous song reminds me of a short film/PSA I saw a few years ago… It also is not far from what I tell people when they go on a journey. “Don’t die.” I saw this artist perform live with Jason Mraz years ago. I first heard of her through her work with Damien Rice.

Lisa Hannigan - Safe Travels:

Flume & Chet Faker - Drop the Game

I think I heard this song in a show… I liked the melody and production, and when I looked up the official music video I liked that too. Dancing!
Note: The official MV has HD!

Flume & Chet Faker - Drop the Game:

Selah Sue - Time

A lot of this artist’s music has a groovy reggae vibe that is really appealing, but this considerably more lilting song is too beautiful to ignore.
Note: HD quality is to be found here!

Selah Sue - Time:

#HIPHOPISHIPHOP - Hip Hop for the World

My coworker sent this song to me, and was an instant winner with me by virtue of its multilingualness. The point is to showcase hip hop artists from around the world rapping in their native language to illustrate how far-reaching the once-niche genre has become. There’s a power to a subculture that is applicable to and embraced by people globally, and the message is that participants in it are members of the same opt-in clan regardless of country of origin. It’s no surprise that this project was helmed by KRS-One, a longtime proponent of hip hop culture who believes in its power to enact positive change and unite across boundaries. This song itself is an attempt to use hip hop music as an instrument of positive change by promoting diversity and inclusivity, celebrating differences while insisting that these shouldn’t act as barriers.
Note: This is the official MV in HD! It also has the lyrics in the original language as well as translated into English!

#HIPHOPISHIPHOP - Hip Hop for the World:

Indila - Dérniere Danse

This French artist implements a singing style that reminds me very much of Middle Eastern-style singing. It’s my favorite feature of this song! (Actually, Wikipedia lists one of the genres her music falls under as rai and her ethnic background includes Algerian, so I guess this is true.) I think YouTube recommended this artist to me. I guess YouTube knows what it’s doing because I’ve liked every song by her I’ve heard so far. I’m preparing for this artist to become one of my favorites.
Note: The official music video is kinda cool and has HD, so I’m using that!

Indila - Dérniere Danse [Last Dance]:

Clazziquai Project - 라푼젤

Another calming song comes from this Korean artist, whom I’ve liked since I was a teenager and who are still going. Both the singers for this group have soothing and naturally sonically-pleasing voices, and in this one Alex takes more of the lead. A significant amount of this song is in English, but for the parts that aren’t the video has English subtitles!

Clazziquai Project - 라푼젤 [Rap’unjel - Rapunzel]:

Sara Tavares - Di Alma

I found this Portuguese artist through YouTube surfing for music. Her music sounds so calm & content, her voice so relaxed, as to seem enlightened. It’s a rhythm I’m not used to, but I could use some variety in my listening. The standout features of her music to me are her jazzy voice and the strong African influence in the instrumentals. This isn’t a coincidence, since this song is in the creole language spoken in the African country of Cape Verde. This artist sang the Portugal version of “God Help the Outcasts” (a song I’ve posted before) in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Sara Tavares - Di Alma [Your Soul]:

Enrique Iglesias feat. Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona - Bailando

The music video for this song won me over because the dancing in it was so cool to watch. The part with the soccer balls is so dope!
Note: This is the official MV with HD!

Enrique Iglesias feat. Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona - Bailando [Dancing]:

Melanie Martinez - Pity Party

My friend sent me this song shortly after it was released, and although I’d heard songs by this artist before I didn’t like her previous songs as much as this one. It seems people know my taste, because a second friend sent me this song not long after the first friend did.
Note: HD listening is available!

Melanie Martinez - Pity Party:

James Horner - Real or Imagined?

Another world-renowned talent lost too soon… This famous composer died in a plane crash exactly 2 weeks ago. I’ve already posted a lot of songs that he composed for movie soundtracks ranging from Casper to The Land Before Time to Mighty Joe Young to Avatar to An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. I thought this time I should post a piece from a soundtrack I haven’t used before but have watched the movie of, so I went with this one from A Beautiful Mind. (Coincidentally, the man on whom the biographical movie is based died in a car crash almost exactly month before James Horner did.) R.I.P. James Horner AND John Nash.
Note: This video has HD and a pretty visualization!

James Horner - Real or Imagined?:

Origa - Rise

This is one of this artist’s most famous songs, as it was an opening theme of the anime series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. My friend wanted to perform this song in the karaoke room at the anime convention she and I recently attended, but I don’t know the lyrics well enough or read Russian fast enough to join her, so it didn’t happen. Still, it’s a beautiful song! It’s such a shame a singer with this beautiful a voice was lost so soon.
Note: Hi-def quality available!

Origa - Rise:

Eyedea - Read Wiped in Blue

Here’s a “patriotic” hip hop song. This song narrates the emcee growing up in a dysfunctional household, missing his deceased mother and resenting his abusive father. However, the deeper interpretation is that the description of a household is a metaphor for a country. I suspect the mother is nature (i.e. Mother Earth), and the father is clearly the United States. It calls out the U.S.’s long and enduring history of violence by making reference to the nation’s origins based in genocide and slavery, its tradition of imperialism, and its addiction to enabling continued acts of violence at home and abroad, which he claims will lead to its downfall. Happy 4th of July!
Note: Found it in HD!

Eyedea - Read Wiped in Blue:

Delta Rae - All Good People

This (mostly) a cappella song was written in the wake of the events of the past couple years wherein story and story of unarmed black Americans being killed by police and not being done justice by “the system” dominated the news media and public consciousness. I appreciate this song all the more given that this artist is a South-based group of white members. This song was released 2 weeks ago, the day after the racism-motivated shooting at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, and the lyrics make reference to the death of Eric Garner, who was choked to death by the police while telling them he couldn’t breathe. Like the first song I posted by them, there’s a Southern gospel sound to this one, and since its message is in part related to an event at a black church that suits the theme well. (I started liking this artist because of their Southern gothic aesthetic, but since then I’ve come to appreciate them more upon learning of their investment in social issues and incorporation of it into their art.)
Note: Listening in HD is recommended!

Delta Rae - All Good People:

Frank Sinatra - Live Until I Die

Of course, I’ve known of this famous artist for as long as I can remember, but I heard this particular song on the Todd Glass Podcast recently and especially liked it. I never really felt compelled to post his music before this song. I like the meaning, and it’s catchy!
Note: It’s old, but someone kindly uploaded it in HD!

Frank Sinatra - Live Until I Die:

Tasha Reid - She (…Could Never Be Me)

This artist can both sing AND rap! I was accustomed to her first as an emcee, so I was surprised to hear how well she can sing. This song isn’t especially inspired, but it reminds me of late 90s/early 200s R&B like TLC, which I like.

Tasha Reid A.K.A. 윤미래 - She (…Could Never Be Me):