REVIVED!

Apologies for the very long hiatus from the scene - it's because the ftp server which I've been leeching off had kicked the bucket, and to be honest, I've been quite busy of late to hunt for a replacement server. Or to even update the rotation in fact. =.=

So to make up for my absence, and as a grateful gesture to all of you who have been faithfully visiting this page despite all the dead links - here's a bit of everything that I've been listening to for the past 5 months.

Thanks for the continual support. (/^ ^)/




Artist: Teriyaki Boyz feat Pharell
Title: Chou  L A R G E
Remark: I first saw them perform during the MTV Japan Music Video Awards 2006 - loved the cheeky, in-your-face attitude of the bois. I usually despise live hip-hop performances, cos it's little more than one artist with a truckload of back-up rappers that run around the stage hollering at each other - half the time, not even consistently. Which was why TByz caught my attention, because they were fresh and innovative with their stage ideas. Larve it. >.< And tis of The Fast n Furious: Tokyo Drift soundtrack btw.


Artist: M-flo featuring Melody
Title: Miss You
Remark: A good pairing of the MC's rapping  with Melody's sweet and almost crystal-like vocals, and Ryohei's slightly husky singing. THe song in a whole is very upbeat and catchy - but not in an annoying, Morning Musume manner of course. It's chill-out and dancable-to at the same time. Nice nice, trust me on this. I'm sure you do anyway, hoooo~


Artist: Tomiko Van
Title: Hold Me...
Remark: I LOVE THIS SONG TO BITS!! A very jazzy and mellow piece - which goes superbly well with Tomiko-san's sultry vocals. If you had seen the video (which was very in place with the song), it was her crooning in a smoky, blues-y, old-fashioned nightclub. I'm guessing it's possible to spot a mafia or two in the audience if you try. ^^ But yeah - think feather boas, glamourous evening gowns with dangerously high slits, and a grand piano in the middle of the stage.


Artist: Do As Infinity
Title: Enrai
Remark: Not quite as impressive as the previous song - although arguably I'm in my whole jazzy/oldies-phase at the moment so..... But it's still a pretty nice song, cos really you can't go wrong with DAI, I supposed. :) Simple acoustic strumming to back Tomiko-san's ever-outstanding singing. And the melody itself tugs at your heart, especially at the chorus.


Artist: Takui
Title: Message
Remark: His latest single (or has there been a newer one? I dunno..). I don't quite know where to place this one. It sounds very much like your typical Takui song, yet it fails to match up to its predecessors. Maybe because his previous hits were huge, so it's kinda hard to live up to expectations, eh? Or perhaps it's time for him to incorporate different sounds into his works...


Artist: Wang Lee Hom
Title: Kiss Goodbye
Remark: Yes, I know that this song has been played to death everywhere - radio, TV, karaokes - but bear in mind that this rotation had been away during all the hype. And this is, to date, one of my most-est favourite-st Lee Hom song, so I cannot not put it up. Moreover it has a lot of bittersweet connotations for me. T.T Beautiful love song, done ever so beautifully by the beautiful boi himself. Sigh.


Artist: Jay Chou ft. Lara
Title: Shan Hu Hai
Remark: Another overplayed and oversang song I know... but yeah ditto to everything I said above, up till the bittersweet connotations part. But it's more of a heart-wrenching rather than heart-tugging number - because the song, if I'm not mistaken, is about break-ups and moving on. T______T And technically it's Jay Chou's first duet with a female in a studio effort... and it's all <3.


Artist: Gary Cao
Title: Superwoman
Remark: This is a remake of Karyn White's hit - although, someone told me that the lyrics were actually in response to the original version's. Is this true?


Artist: Jolin Tsai
Title: Wo Yao De Xuan Ze
Remark: The usual formula of light piano tatterings at the intro... then enters the sweet, mellow vocals.... and then it proceeds to a whole orchestra of strings towards the middle/end of the song. Nothing particularly special about this song, but it's not too bad as an additional track to your chill-out playlist. Like say, when you're leaving the music on whilst doing calculus, or something.


Artist: Anson Hu
Title: Waiting For You
Remark: Part of the 'outdated-playlist' theme. (- -") But to be fair, I only recently re-discovered this song in my folder. Apparently it's been there for years, but somehow I always scrolled pass it and and... well you know. A really nice song! Falls under the heart-wrenching category as well. And very high singalong-bility.


Artist: Aqualung
Title: Brighter Than Sunshine
Remark: Wholesome Melancholic Goodness.


Artist: Muse
Title: Unintended
Remark: One of my favourite love song at the moment - it's so hauntingly beautiful. We all know that Matt Bellamy is a genius as he is, but this track just completely sealed his reputation as one of the most talented singer/songwriter in the industry. Let me say it again - I so so so so love this song. And when he hit the high notes in the chorus, just sends shiver down my spine (cliche lines, oh).


Artist: Troy & Gabriella
Title: Breaking Free
Remark: Taken from the High School Musical OST. The whole movie is just so irrepressibly cute - and the same goes for the soundtrack really. All the little bois and girls doing their things, awwww..... and here I am rotting with age and gazing at their youthfulness and vibe with envy. And yes, they can sing. Give them a couple of years and they'll be the next generation of Hilary Duff and... whatever male equivalents of Ms Duff.


Artist: Sergio Mendes
Title: Timeless
Remark: Chill-out, Latino, samba, bossanova...... I can't quite place my finger on it, but absolutely perfecto for a winding-down session. I would liken this to a typical Cafe del Mar fare really. Or it probably is.


Artist: Michael Buble
Title: A Foggy Day (in London Town)
Remark: This song makes me want to just pack my bags and ship off to London at this very moment. *_* All the jazzy, big-band goodness that paints the stereotypical image of Great Britain - gloomy skies, damp walkways, Big Ben, old Englishmen smoking their pipes and reading their papers, Sherlock Holmes...


Artist: Gnarls Barkley
Title: Crazy
Remark: BUT, to prove that I haven't gone all white-haired and senile - here's one to stir things up a bit. Groovy, phunky, aweshome. And you gotta love the retro sampling that was incorporated into the song - since retro is cool again.


Artist: Shannon Noll
Title: Shine
Remark: My 'feel-good' song; occassionally the 'survive-traffic-jams-without-hazards' song. Speaking on the latter ---> it's great to wind down the window and sing this song outloud to your heart's content. You can even pretend you're in an MTV version of a traffic congestion [think Kylie's 'Red Blooded Woman'], instead of a hot and humid, honk-blaring one in front of you. Yeap, you are the star of the highway darling.


Artist: Shakira ft Wyclef Jean
Title: Hips Don't Lie "C Bamboo
Remark: Take it as a withdrawal symptom if you must - but I'm still all over this song. And Shakira is sizzlin' burnin' hawt. Did anyone catch her performance at the closing ceremony? HOOO~~ And this version beats the original studio one; more samba, more flavour, and way way sexier.


Artist: LL Cool J feat. Jennifer Lopez
Title: Control Myself (Remix 2006)
Remark: MUSIC MAKES ME LOSE CONTROL! *gyrates wildly to this song* Ze ze ze ze ze ze ze ze ze ze ze....

Artist: Rain
Title: Sad Tango
Description: In his virgin crossover effort, I reckon this is a not bad job at all. It seems to be a trend these days for Koreans to test the Japanese waters... but I've yet to see any of the opposite manner. Korean language too difficult to grasp? Anyway, I'm not a big fan of Rain or Bi or whatever he calls himself these days.... but with due credit, this song is pretty infectious. -.- Taken from the soundtrack of "A Love To Kill".

Artist: Rain
Title: Slowly
Description: The title says it all: slow... sensual... smooth... smexy... rnb. Hohoho, I would want to direct his music video for this song man (if it isn't already produced?) And make myself the pole he - or better still, some other hot jap model/actor - gyrates upon, hurhur. >.< Undeniably he is an awesome dancer after all.

 

Artist: Miz
Title: Bittersweet
Description: Japanesu girl singing in.. rather audible English. ^^ Sounds a lot like something you would expect outta Laruku or Hyde, for some reason.

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Title: Born to be...
Description: Side B to her latest single, "Startin". Very... Olympic-games sounding.

Artist: Rossa
Title: Kini
Description: I don't know much about this Indonesian crooner, in fact tis the only song of hers which I have. And even then, it was sent to me by a friend. =.= But a really, really sad-sounding love song... just her accompanied by the piano. I would liken this to, say, Kris Dayanti's "Menghitung Hari" in terms of emo-ness and heart-wrenching-ness. :)

Artist: Jay Chou
Title: Yi Lu Xiang Bei
Description: The theme song for Initial D The Movie. I've always kinda liked this song.. but ever since The Big Break, I've grown even fonder of this song, for all the memories that it evokes. =/ And then reading the translation of the lyrics - it was like releasing a fckin dam. T_T I had this song on repeat for 3 days consecutively.

Artist: Jay Chou
Title: Huo Yuan Jia
Description: Quite on the contrary, this song is very... hm, empowering. ^^ Taken off the soundtrack of 'Fearless', which I've yet to watch but have heard enough about its "WE THE AWESHOME CHINESE PEEPEL" feel to it. Hoho and I like the little fan dance sequence in the music video, hehe. Hua hua hua hua hua hua hua HUAH. *mock kungfu hand gestures*

Artist: Eason Chan
Title: Let Me Love You
Description: I can safely say that till today, Eason's the only mainstream HK artist I know whom consistently churn out jazzy numbers. Come to think of it, it's a damn rare occurance that chinese artistes step away from the genres that they belong in or are comfortable in - the pop remains forever pop, the hiphop stick to their blings... you get the picture. So yes, hats off to Eason boi.  (/^ ^)/

Artist: Thievery Corporation
Title: So Com Voce
Description: 100% chill out.

Artist: Audioslave
Title: I Am The Highway
Description: Would have overall been a better song if the vocalist was less whingey on the front. -.- But I'm rooting on this one for the melancholy and acoustic strummings. Yes, acoustic strummings good. Acoustic strummings more please.

Artist: Michael Buble
Title: I Wish You Love
Description: I like the Rachel Yamagata version better [which I heard off the 'Prime' movie end credits], but couldn't find it. T.T Anyone who does, please do share? I reckon this is possibly one of the most.. diplomatic and optimistic break-up song. Ever.
 

Artist: Jacky Cheung
Title: Ni Shi Ai Wo De
Description: PERHAPS LOVE IS <3 for three reasons: Takeshi Kaneshiro, the awesome songs throughout the movie, and Takeshi Kaneshiro. This one's a grand and powerful (quite literally) piece by Jacky Cheung - displaying his superb vocal prowess. It has resonance, baby, RESONANCE!!! More songs over at Linny's.

 

Artist: 12 Girls Band
Title: Miracle
Description: In conjunction with Chinese New Year, I present to you the MOST traditional, chinese-sounding songs that I have: by none other than the amazing 12 Girls Band themselves. *cue for applause from the audience* I'm sorry I don't have any proper chinese new year songs to irritate the daylights outta you guys... but just have to make do with these ya? If you haven't heard of them, well basically they are this bunch of young, pretty chinese girls who play kick-ass traditional chinese instruments such as the er-hu and so on.. but with a slightly modern twist to it, while still retaining the aesthetic value of the instruments. In my opinion that is.
<<download>>

Artist: 12 Girls Band
Title: Tang Court Ensemble
Description: A less 'spirited, powerful' number compared to the previous one, but just as blessed with the chinese-ness. Wtf-ness. Nvm me, I just have to fill up space for this part.
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Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Title: Rainy Day
Description: Not particularly a very outstandingly grand song or anything, but for some reason it stirs a bit of.... distant, childhood memory; wrapped in gloomy day indoors sorta emotion for me. I supposed since it is titled 'rainy day'... and with the music-box sounds in the background, gives it that innocent child-like touch. This taken from her latest album, (miss)understood.
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Artist: Funky Monkey Babies
Title: Sonomanma Higashi E
Description: If I hadn't known better, I would have thought these guys were nobodyknows+ [them who sings the background music you're hearing]. Listen to it and you'll know what I'm talking about. So I reckon if you dig the new-age, light-weight J-rnb/hip-hop stuff, you'll like funkymonkeybabies. ^^
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Artist: Funky Monkey Babies
Title: Egao
Description: B-side to the above track.
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Artist: York
Title: The Awakening (mellow mix)
Description: I believe I've mentioned this before, that of late I've been going on a rampage for chill-out loungey music. Jazz was one part of my search. But for something a lil more edgey (and less likely to snooze off to), I found my pride and joy in the Ministry of Sound 'Chill-Out session 2001' double-disc album. This one of my fav track from it. Now, who's up for a couple of drinks at Luna?
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Artist: Groove Armada
Title: Superstylin
Description: When at lost on where to start with the big acts, always be on the lookout for their 'best of' compilation. (/^ ^)/ Fckin cool song, this one is. Get. You. Must.
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Artist: Rip Slyme
Title: Slowdown
Description: B-side track to their 'Hot Chocolate' single. As expected of the boys, you have some queer sounding melody backed by interesting samples of sounds and beats. And then there's the variety of vocal levels - the hoarse n deep, the squeaky, the in-between. All in wholesome rip slyme goodness, ne?
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Artist: Wang Lee Hom
Title: Da Cheng Xiao Ai
Description: From his latest album, Heroes of Earth. Which I personally thought wasn't anything more or less to cheer about compared to his previous effort. =.= But this song.... sounds strangely familiar. The verse sounds a hell lot like this ancient Emil Chau number..... and then the chorus sounds very much like this other ancient Emil Chau song. Or it could be Powerstation. -____-
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Artist: Gerhana Ska Cinta
Title: Senyuman Ragamu (acoustic version)
Description: YES I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM!!! So much that I finally went out and bought both their albums, wahahahaha. If you had liked the original version featuring Radhi of OAG, I'm sure this one will appeal just as much. As it is stated, pure clean acoustic strummings... and sang by Widy, their female vocalist. Let's start a reggae reformation here baybeh! (/>___<)/ And make it multi-racial while we're at it please.
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Artist: Oi-Skall Mates
Title: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius
Description: OMG, Disney on crack. >.<
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Artist: Brian Setzer Orchestra
Title: Everybody Wants to be A Cat
Description: If you're wondering about the sudden influx of Disney-ism, well tis all taken from the Mosh Pit on Disney albums... which comprises of a bunch of Japanese and international acts reliving the Disney hits from the past. I heart this for the jazzyness it reeks. Meow to you too~ *paws*
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Artist: Jolin Tsai
Title: Jia Mian De Gao Bai
Description: The saddest song I've heard in a loooong while.... don't quite know what it means, but from the bit and pieces of chinese that I managed to pick up from the song, I'm guessing it's something about heartbreak or unrecruited love. T_T But you don't have to know what it means to feel the sadness man... piano and violin.... awesome melody.... singing not bad la, I will give her due credits even though I used to don't really like her. Emo song of the month. And for some reason, very nostalgic as well... although I haven't heard this song previously, so... hm.
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Artist: Dreamz FM
Title: Bu Zhi De
Description: Slow chinese number... great for unwinding, not-so-great when you're feeling lethargic.
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Artist: BoA
Title: Dakishimeru
Description: Her recent single. Strictly for fans. And I'm not one of them.
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Artist: Mr. Children
Title: And I Love You
Description: Lurbly acoustic piece, with vocals I liken to Takui (whom I love to bits)... although I think MrChildren came about first right? Simple and sweet stuff; just the way I like it. :)
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Artist: My Chemical Romance
Title: Ghost of You
Description: I didn't quite pick up on the hype of MCR while everyone else were raving on about them.... but I love this song. Energy is very raw, and in some ways it's quite a sad song as well, albeit in a more angsty manner.
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Artist: Gerhana Ska Cinta
Title: Antara Anyir dan Jakarta
Description: SUPPORT THE MALAYSIAN MUSIC SCENE, YAAY!! (/^ ^)/ I just watched them perform live a couple of days ago, and the adrenaline is still pumping up till today. They are among the best live acts I've seen, and their fan base is downright happening - unlike some of the self-proclaimed rockers who just stand around the moshpit and space out. -.- But anyway, this one's a remake of the Indonesian song... which incidentally was popularized by another of our local artiste, the ever effable Sheila Majid. And GSC's version is the reggae remix of it.
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Artist: Gerhana Ska Cinta ft Too Phat
Title: Shake Yer' Body
Description: Yes they sing in English as well. And this song is just so fckin infectiously happee. *bounces around the room*
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Artist: Sheila on 7
Title: Sephia
Description: Old school hit song from Indon. Starts off on an acoustic pace, and then slowly breaks into a fuller melody with elec guitar, drums and strings. Dunno why it took me so long to post it up, have had it in my folder for ages. -.- Absolute love, get it you must.
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Artist: Limp Bizkit ft Methodman
Title: N 2 Gether Now
Description: Oh reminiscing the old days of 1999.... back when I was in Form 2 in secondary school, and Bizkit was the bomb. Significant Other was probably their one and only awesome spawn... the subsequent ones after that pretty much went downhill. -.- I'm almost sorry that Durst sold out to commercialism. Anyway, this one's a tribute to their heydays - back when creativity and kewlness were aplenty.
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Artist: Robbie Williams
Title: Make Me Pure (acoustic version)
Description: Taken off his latest album, Intensive Care - this one's according to the never-failing, Robbie ballad formula --> which proved success for numerous hits in the past. 'Angel' still sits at first place among them all; but this one's pretty good as well. I mean hey, it is Robbie after all... all the British goodness that oozes outta him. ^^
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Artist: Alicia Keyes
Title: If I Ain't Got You (unplugged version)
Description: I have 3 versions of this song, and I love every single one of them. It's just my all-time favourite song laa, so sue me for putting each and every one of them up. Alicia's just incredible, isn't she?
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Artist: OAG
Title: Beautifool
Description: A bit of the Malaysian scene - the boys are one of the pioneering english pop-rock acts in the industry. And truth be said, they're pretty much as big as you can get over here. This track is quite a few years' old, but I love it just as much. High sing-along-bility, mosh-ability... the sorta songs that drive crowds wild in rock gigs, due to the energy and melody flow in it. (/^ ^)/
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Artist: OAG
Title: PerMYSuri
Description: A little word play on the Bahasa Malaysia word, Permaisuri, which means 'queen'. An incredibly sweet ballad (sang in BM)... just simple acoustic guitars backing the endearing vocals of frontman Radhi. The sorta stuff that drives me crazy you know. ;) And the lyrics translate something to the lines of "... imagine if I was your TV, my transmission especially for you, drama production made just for you, transmitted via the satellite of love". >___< Very first love sorta feel.
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Artist: Gerhana Ska Cinta ft Radhi
Title: Senyuman Ragamu
Description: Another act from our local front --> this is kinda like a cross between Bob Marley and early No Doubt (the ska bit). ^^ Funny how I never noticed these bands before, when they've been around for quite some time. And making quite a stir in the industry as well in fact.
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Artist: Sid
Title: Aikagi ~unplugged version~
Description: YATTA, SIDO E KAERIMASHITA! (/>_<)/ Their previous album, Renai totally blew me away with all the jazz factors, so I was really looking forward to the release of this new album. Along the way however, they had a string of... less than impressive single releases, which struck fear in me that they were going back to indie school - synths and such. +_+ Fortunately though, the album had plenty more installed - such as this really sad sounding song... which is jus piano + vocals. Me like.
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Artist: Sid
Title: Toge to neko
Description: And yes, the jazz elements fulfiled.
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Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Title: Pride
Description: ...... I dunno what was Ayu thinking when she released 'Bold & Delicious'.... the song just freaks me out. The video too. =.= But on the polar opposite of its B-side, this song is sooooo fckin awesome. It has a very 'grand' and majestic feel to it; abit dark, with orchestra and choir and all... but all in all, awesome melody. Good shit, this one. Get it.
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Artist: Utada Hikaru
Title: Passion
Description: Hmm, don't exactly know what to make out of this song. Very spacey, new-age sorta feel..... I figured since I haven't had Hikki up in a while over here so, here goes her latest one.
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