Since I was missing in action for a week I decided to mesh two weeks of time in this post YAY!…So here are ten songs ^_^
1. Nami Tamaki – Destiny
The Song: Destiny was a album track for greeting and funny enough is one of two (the other being “Eternal Voice”) where it was GUNDAM-like in its presentation.
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: Well, we already know that I stan hard for Ms. Tamaki in a good way and since this is SONY we’re talking about, there’s a lot of songs on my iPhone during this era from her. Destiny while not on the top of my favorites, it’s pretty energetic and hearing Nami pull off those high notes is awesome!
2. Aaliyah – Rock the Boat
The Song: Rock the Boat was Aaliyah’s second single to promote her final album, ΛΛLIYΛH and unfortunately the song also got remembered as the setting that killed her because she died in a plane crash coming home from shooting the MV for it. Yeah it’s that big of a song…though I don’t think it was as popular as “More Than a Woman” was.
The Video: Givin that the song has a very sensual feel and flow to it, I wasn’t expecting to see that Aaliyah would actually make the setting around the Caribbean. It looks so peaceful and perfect for the song. There’s close up shots of her on a beach and the choreography is done on a boat. Add in some underwater scenes and an odd green-screen set for some of the dancing, you kind of get this. I mean since it was he final video she really shot, Rock the Boat is a pretty video for its time.
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: I love Aaliyah too, so I do get nostalgic vibes whenever I listen to her music since she brings such a sweet style to music. While Rock the Boat’s lyrics are a bit too sensual for a young’n at the time, this makes a little more nowadays and it’s sexual hahah. Still it’s a pretty song and hearing Aaliyah in such a deep tone really impressed me…miss her!
3. Katy Perry – Firework
The Song: Third single from Teenage Dream, Firework might be one of the best songs from this album (even though there’s a lot of great songs).
The Video: Interesting that she shot this in Prague (in the Czech Republic), Firework’s PV is like the song’s lyrics…you know uplifting and having a positive message. There are different scenes that basically just turns out to be a message that says you’re great in your own way don’t let it bring you down. A couple of things stood out like the gay guy being smokin’ hot! and the fact fireworks shot out of Katy’s boobs…I mean if that literally happened I’d prolly die XD.
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: I love Firework for some reason, it’s uplifting lyrics really popped out at me and Katy sounds powerful for this song which helped it gain that No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts. I just really love this song.
4. Mai Kuraki – NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP (featuring Michael Africk)
The Song: Ahhhh, her fourth A-side, NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP might have tooken some notes from that well-known rickroll tune from Rick Astley. Of course this is also the first song Mai-K has collaborated with and that’s Michael Africk who tried to follow the bubblegum-pop craze in America but kind of failed and stuck with Mai (oddly enough they still work together!) ^_^
The Video: The tune begins with a short intro piece with a different song/melody that isn’t found on any version of the song. Sadly the PV for the tune is mostly shot in a recording studio. A little interesting since it’s like behind the scenes and all that. Also most of the video is played out in black and white which is a bummer. At least you see both Mai and Michael singing their respective parts. However, the rapping part does go in color but Africk….why are you wearing mesh clothing to show ur body…it’s so RANDOM!!! Still not a very epic PV but it’s nice.
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: Like Aaliyah’s song, NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP is a sensual tune and quite different from Mai-K before this single was released. I do feel the rapping part is still very odd but somehow without it, it wouldn’t have left the same feelings. Great song ^_^
5. KARA – Speed Up
The Song: Speed Up is KARA’s 6th A-side though shares it with “Girls Power”. Unlike the past three singles, this is a bit more like K-pop regular than KARA’s cute stuff which is a nice jump.
The Video: I was surprised with KARA’s PV for Speed Up since it really took them to a different side of their personalities. I mean the closest to it was “Mister”. The PV is a lot dingy and darker than I thought it’d be and the girls look sexy rather than just cute. Does remind me of a f(x) PV but this is quite nice for the group!
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett: Speed Up is the most recent addition to the iPhone that’s for sure and it’s because it’s so different for KARA but somehow ended up working for em. It’s just a pretty good song and quickly growing on me.
6. 5DOLLS – Your Words
The Song: Your Words is the main track that was used to promote 5DOLLS’ Charming Five Girls and if you must know, 5DOLLS are a sub-group from Co-ed School ^_^
The Video: It’s such a tragic song to be honest. I mean a girl that fights for a guys attention/love just only to end up dying at the end of the PV…saddening T.T Also they used an extended version of the song so the story could be filled out more. I mean “Lip Stains” was part one and “Your Words” was pt. 2. It’s just a little sad it ended the way it did but it’s still a nice story.
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: I kind of ended up enjoying this song because it was during my K-pop wave. Your Words might be a little repetitive because of its chorus but I still think Your Words was pretty awesome for a subgroup.
7. Morning Musume – Souda! We’re ALIVE
The Song: Such a great and loud song from Momosu. It had a lot of weird things going on like chanting and some kind of weird Russian motif through a certain part of the song. Still it had a powerful arrangement and great vocals from the girls who actually put emotion to the lyrics.
The Video: Like the song’s feel, there’s a lot of punching the air in the PV funny enough. It’s pretty glossy of a setting and the ladies are doing a good job keeping up with the song (even when some of them are doing choreography while wearing handbags and such. Other mentionings are the dancing in the russian-sounding area and the ladies falling onto some hay and some group shots with stop-motion. Pretty nifty video!
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: Despite being pretty herky-jerky of the song, Souda! We’re ALIVE stands out with it’s great chants and boost of personality for the girls with this one. I do think it’s one of my favorites from the group…odd right? Chahhhh…good song indeed!
8. Morning Musume – Onna ni Sachi Are
The Song: Onna ni Sachi Are represents as the first single to include the Chinese members, Junjun & Linlin and also the second A-side to represent Platinum 9 DISC.
The Video: Nowadays, I feel like it’s a more classier version of “Pyokopyoko Ultra” in the fact their using feathery boas and their outfits are also yellow. I mean after most of the previous PVs from them, Onna ni Sachi Are felt very low quality and didn’t feature the new members enough IMO (which is something I say a lot during the Panda’s tenures). The choreography was nice but a lot of it was odd because of the boas getting in the way. Also the close-up shots were interesting especially the ones shot at their sides…that was pretty cool. Still not one of the more thought producing PV’s they had.
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: I love this song for some reason, the fact that it has this parapara feel to it plus hearing ~baka~ over and over is pretty ballsy for Tsunku XD. Great and energetic dance track from them.
9. T.M.Revolution – Trace Millenium Road
The Song: Yup, Trace Millenium Road is part of those songs where he has his signature T.M.R lettering across it. Meaning it was an album song, this one from progress.
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: I love the stringwork in the song and how it moves from that to some epic guitar strikes that just made the song seem so right for Takanori. I do think it’s one of those rare songs that I like from T.M.R before “coordinate” existed.
10. Steely Dan – Dirty Work
The Song: Released in 1972, Dirty Work was track 2 on Can’t Buy a Thrill though I don’t know if it was a single or not.
So why’s it on your iPhone, Brett?: Well I’ve said before that I do like songs from the past (even before I was born) so seeing Dirty Work is no surprise to me. I loved the laidback feel of the song plus the added saxophone solo in it were quite awesome.
SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK OF THE TWO WEEKS WORTH OF SONGS? ^_^