I decided that two posts this week would be fantastic, because it is the week of Christmas, and there's a break (for those of you who are students), and just because.
These guys are another band that I am absolutely loving right now. They're fresh, I love their sound, and I really enjoy the attitude in a lot of their songs, weird as that may sound.
I know that this song (10cm, "Americano") was banned for some lyric "issues," and I am not going to argue here or there. I've already said my bit about censorship and how ridiculous I think some of it is.
I really enjoy this music video, though. I love that they are just there, singing. It's a fun, randomly quirky setting for a fun, randomly quirky song.
I really enjoy the "jembe" (according to Wikipedia, that is the percussion instrument ;) ), and the guitar together, and love they way they play with their voices. It just is a fun song to listen to, because it doesn't really take itself seriously, and so listeners don't have to either, and can just jam along with it. Or chill to it, depending ;)
That's really all I have to say, so have a great week with your Chill listening, darlings!
I admit, I was slow to liking this group/duo. I was involved in other kinds of music, and their style didn't really catch me at first.
That being said, please don't hate me for it. Because they slowly and surely caught me in their web of inconceivable awesomeness. Seriously, these guys are fantastic! I love what they do musically, I love the play of their voices, and I especially love how clever they are with all of the collaborations they do. There isn't a song of theirs that I do not like, now.
This music video is a personal favorite of mine:
I adore the stop-motion filming, it is so clever, and the "background" scenery is wonderful and imaginative.
I personally adore the song. It is so catchy and will stay in your head for days. Of course, it doesn't help when you listen to it on repeat for each of those days :-)
The description box says something about a man being true to instinct and a woman's logical persuasion. I don't know whether that interprets into what I caught from the music video, but here goes: It seems like the guy really likes her, but the girl wants love to be a certain way, and so she makes him chase her, but he just wants to like her in his own way.
And, I love love LOVE the rhythm and the beat and the way the voices all twine together but create this amazing song. Wow, it is amazing. This song is one that you can listen to in your kitchen and just dance around with while you're doing whatever. It's that good. (That, if you couldn't tell, is my measure for every song--if you can dance around to it in your kitchen ;) )
Anyway, I hope you guys all listen to LEESSANG, because they are absolutely fantastic!
Oh, the music video above was a collaboration with LEESSANG, Tasha and Kwon Jungyeol of 10cm. Have fun with your Chill Music listening, and a fantastic week!
Seriously, I've been super busy trying to get ready for the holiday season. I'm sure most of you know how it goes: Everything seems to be amped up and there are so many more activities going on, and you need to get your shopping done on top of that, and then there's work as well...
*sigh*
Anyway, I haven't forgotten about Chill Music Stash, I promise. I've just been busy.
Here's something new to me, and maybe new to you, to tide you over until I can actually post something more... In depth. Which should be either tomorrow or next week after Christmas.
Hope you enjoy!
I know it's not really a music video, but I am definitely liking the sound and the play of the instruments together. Of course, I have only listened to it the once, so I'm not sure if I will absolutely love it after multiple listenings.
I hope you all have a happy Holiday season, whether it be Christmas or another holiday you celebrate! And enjoy your chill listening :)
It's about time everyone loved them as much as I do.
Of course, those are the thoughts that cross every fan's mind when he or she is thinking of said favorite band. Or perhaps just some really good music.
Nell is amazing. They have struck a fantastic balance between the instruments and the vocals, and I'm sure if I understood the lyrics, they'd be fantastic too. Yep, still working on that. But you can tell, even when you don't speak the language, because the words are so clear they are obviously more important than just words.
And so. Watch Nell. In fact, start with these videos, and branch out from there. Because you will love them. I'm pretty sure.
Nell's Stay. Actually probably my favorite Nell song right now.
Here's a live version of another song. Nell is just amazing. This song makes my heart smile.
And this last one is their LATEST!!! Just watched it. Love it. Oh man, so many good things to say. But I won't. Okay, maybe just a few.
It's amazing how when she gets up she coughs like there's no oxygen to breathe. That's what it feels like when everything seems lost to you. You can't breathe, think, do anything except survive sometimes.
The ice is a beautiful theme running throughout. Either the relationship has grown so cold neither of them can survive, or it's over (the relationship) and her life seems like it has frozen in time and space because she can't move on. Wonderful imagery.
The ring--a symbol of commitment, but it's no longer on her finger: it has been frozen into a solid block of ice, representing not only the failed relationship but all of her hopes for the future. It's as if she can physically do nothing (represented by her eventual lying back down and giving up).
Okay, I'm done going all English major-y on ya. It was a good moment :)
Hope you love Nell as much as I do. Especially the direction they are taking with their music. Have a great week with your chill listening, peeps!
I happened upon this song by chance. And I am so glad I did.
It's so interesting! The more I see of PHANTOM, the more I love them.
This song is apparently a rewritten compilation of banned songs by other bands in Korea, which they rewrote and put together to poke fun at (and perhaps even thumb their noses at) restrictions and censorship in Korea.
On one hand, it's hard for me to understand the strict censorship of music in Korea because I don't live there, I live in the United States. On the other, I know how huge a deal censorship is in the US, and the stink people raise when they think their right to freedom of speech is being violated. I would hate to have that kind of censorship imposed on my creative spirit, and the artists I admire. Oh wait, I DO hate that!
I applaud these guys for doing this. I think it's amazing. And the song they put together? Fantastic. Sanchez's voice is so pure, and the harmonies they produce, and that guitar? Oh, slay me now. Beautiful. I love the interaction of the guitar with the voices, and the sounds they produce, and I love how they made it all echo-ey, and unreal when they are in this small room. This one is definitely a win.
But. Holy creeper vibe! When I first saw this music video, I was not sure exactly what I was watching! If you don't know what is going on, you are sitting there watching these three guys seemingly trying to serenade these young schoolgirls, who are sitting there in their short skirts with bare knees, covering their ears, and they have a block covering their eyes! It's CREEPY! Even though the song is chill and makes me happy, the creeper vibe was very strong.
That's how you're supposed to feel, though. With the guys alone, singing this song, it's not creepy, in fact, it is a beautiful song. When you add the young girls, though, and with the way it's shot, you can turn it into something not nice. And I think that's what they were aiming for. They're telling you: sure, you can make anything creepy, you can make anything into something worth censoring. Even if it wasn't that way in the first place.
And really, songs like these ones that PHANTOM borrowed and compiled, what was really so ban-worthy about them? These get banned, when something like Gain's Bloom wasn't? I don't want to single any one music video out, or artist--and there are so many music videos just like Bloom that aren't banned. It really says something, not just about Korean culture, but our world-wide culture doesn't it?
Sorry for ranting about censorship and not enough about how awesome the song is. Instead of me talking further, go watch it for yourself here:
And here's a list of the songs that were banned and put in this song:
Still getting the hang of this blogging thing. I know my posts have been sporadic at best, and sometimes life just gets... Hectic.
Here are a few of the songs from my chill music playlist that I listen to when I want to be calm and chill and relaxed.
Not much commentary except that I love them. And they're fun, "real-life" videos. Or as much of real life you can get when you're filming. I always love to watch those ones.
Love Verbal Jint. So much. Not much else I can say.
Also I love Standing Egg. Especially this song. I could listen to it over and over again.
Wait. I do. Psh! Secret's out now!
So, have a great time with your chill listening, and also, if you live in the States, a fantastic Thanksgiving!
Next week I think I may do some Phantom. I pretty much adore them.
I could honestly listen to these guys all day long. No joke, this song is one that simultaneously makes you want to tap your foot and snap your fingers to the rhythm, but also just kind of lie back and bask in the awesome cuteness. Of course, the first thing I noticed was that the little story that goes along with the song was all in backward-motion or whatever the technical term for it is. That was freaking AWESOME!! Come on! You can't be human and not like this video! Really! It's so fun and quirky and adorable! I think my favorite/awkward part was where one of them is pouring water into the fishbowl, but drinks it after/before? Yeah, the thought of drinking fish water is disgusting, but it's not actually fish water, so we're good. Sorry, little tangent. My favorite thing about the music video is probably the setup when they're in "band" mode. I ADORE the lights all over the floor, and then when they transition from band to story-line and the lights turn into strewn balls of paper? Genius. I also love that the band is in suits for the band part, and his microphone. Oh man, I'm weirdly in love with that microphone. I may want one for Christmas. I'm just saying. I guess, lastly, I like this music video because it communicates in such a creative way how silly and awkward and backward falling in love feels, but at the same time how wonderful and... Just happy it is. Because throughout the video, they are being teased and they are rewriting and agonizing over these messages, but they are still doing it! They love every minute of the agony and silliness. And I think it's a great music video. So, to fall in love with the cute, awkward, backward story of falling in love by Daybreak, you should watch the music video, if you haven't yet :D
Sorry darlings. I've been trying to get past a cold, so I haven't been concentrating on chill music this week. Oh, and I went to see BIGBANG in concert. That might also have something to do with how behind I am.
:)
So. I'm just gonna give you all a few links to some songs that I tend to put on repeat and listen to when I want to calm down, or write, or just chill. These songs are musically wonderful, chill and I love them a lot.
You all know that I love Sungha Jung's music. But this song is definitely one of my favorites. For me, it conjures not only those mellow rainy days in the fall when I would go out and splash in the puddles as a child, but also makes me think of all the endless, just out of reach possibilities my life still holds.
I also really love this song. I know, not a music video. But definitely a song worth listening to. I love the guitar that generates this fast-moving rhythm which is completely offset by his soulful vocals. And then the drums come in, and it's a perfect song. Of course, i really, really love Sanchez's voice. That might be the biggest reason for me picking this song.
And this one. I love. Pretty much the end. Plus the cold I've got is taking over my brain cells, so I'm not sure what I'm typing is even manageable anymore.
All I'll say is this one just makes my heart happy. It's so cute, and quirky, and I love her voice and the way the song compliments it. Or is it that her voice compliments the song? Whichever, they are a perfect fit. And I, yet again, love the guitar.
Hope you have a great time with your chill listening this week!
Okay. I kind of have mixed feelings about this
Music Video. Let’s get that out there at
the very beginning. But I love Standing
Egg, and I’m ecstatic they came out with a new song!!!
I adore the
song. It’s so relaxing and so
chill. I read some of the comments on
Youtube, and they are right: this song is a great one for the morning, you can
get ready and relax and be happy while listening to this awesome song. I love how pure and clear and wonderful Windy’s
voice is and how the guitar is neither drowned out by her voice, nor does it
overwhelm her. Wonderfulness in sound
form.
Okay, on to the music
video. Is it just me, or is the music
video a little bit wistful and a little bit sad despite the chill sound of the
song? You take away the music—the cheerful,
mellow music—talking about a perfect day—and you have a lady, all by herself;
surrounded by either an empty forest, an empty coffee shop, or behind the glass
watching people have fun in an amusement park.
Sure she smiles occasionally, but who made her smile? Usually when you’re smiling by yourself, you’re
smiling at memories, or anticipating something you get to tell someone or do
something to make someone you love laugh.
Face it. A perfect day isn’t really perfect unless you’re
sharing it with someone. Yeah, a day can
be restful and peaceful, and even happy, but to tip it over into the joy sphere
of happiness, you need people that you love.
Just sayin’.
Otherwise, the music
video is totally great. I love all the
shots. It’s fantastically put
together. And yes, some of the elements
of a perfect day are totally there.
Comfy sweater in a neutral color that you wouldn’t wear to fashion
week? Check. Nails that match the color of the tree in
your photograph? Check. Hair down and all over the place? Check.
Warm drink on a cold day? Check.
Funny bits: I already mentioned the nails matching the
trees. That made me giggle. Another thing? Totally love how the photos of the cityscape
and traffic light have the word “Forest” printed across the middle top. What the confusing? Yeah, no idea why anyone would do that except
for advertising purposes, but whatever.
Another thing? Totally love the
old school clock in the wood-printed plastic that tells us that it’s 11:06
AM? Yeah, that one made me happy.
So, I guess what I get
from this music video is that sometimes you don’t have anyone to share your
perfect day with. But you can still be
happy when you’re alone. She smiles at
the end, even though she looks a bit wistful throughout. So, you can be happy and embrace life, even
when you’re alone. I like that, because
sometimes you don’t have people to share things with.
Hope you like the
music video! And happy chill listening
until next week :D
Okay, that's too mild. More... I FREAKING LOVE THIS SONG! And this band.
And I don’t usually
like the style they’ve got going on, but for some reason they got to me. For me I suppose it could be their name. Geeks.
Seriously. So super awesome and
adorable! And I geek out (forgive the
horrible pun) over the fact that they spell it out in Korean. Makes me happy.
Loving the song. I liked Officially Missing you, too, but this
one tugs at my heartstrings.
Yes. My heart has strings. Get over it.
Somehow the more I
listen to it, the more I want to cry. I
know, silly right? But the lyrics
combined with a sort of melancholy feel to the music just… Sigh. It’s like he’s upset but amused at his own
feelings, and doesn’t know what to do with it, and so he moves on. Or I could be totally off. Meh.
There’s one shot of
the path one of the guys is standing on, and it’s got things poking up. I don’t know about you, but if I stepped on
one of those things, I would completely skewer my foot! Seriously.
And the first thought
I had about the couple-ey ness? Their
very first scene with him behind her, holding her? Yeah, totally awkward looking. He just looks uncomfortable there. You can totally tell when people are not necessarily
comfortable being close to each other, and he did not look super comfortable
there. Funny.
And, my last silly
thing about the MV. The guy singing and
rapping at the beginning? He’s kind of
wearing sunglasses in the city. That wouldn’t be weird, except… It’s kind of
night time. And it’s not just the lens
or any special effects. The lights of
the city are on around him. Ha ha, I
actually really love that, though. Yet
another thing that makes me happy.
I loved the different
scenes they shot in. The city at night
(especially with the sunglasses), a park/field with grass, walking along the
street, the sea. Wonderful, shakes it
up, and makes the music video interesting and fantastic to watch.
I loved the
raindrops. Rain is always symbolizing
sadness, I think. For me (I love the
rain, but I live in a desert) in videos like this, it almost feels like the
heart, crying. Especially when whoever
it is can’t. Whoops, there goes my
poetic side. I really liked the rain, is
what I’m saying.
These guys are so
awesome. I’m sure they’d prefer awesome
to “adorable,” but at the same time I want to call them adorable too. Not because they’re not amazing artists, but
because they make us adore them. It’s
not just like, it’s adore… And I’m okay with that. They sneak into your heart with their music
and awesomeness and stay there. The
Geeks are definitely wonderful.
I hope this mv makes
you as happy as it does me. Especially listening
to the song, though, because I could chill to it all day long.
Neon Bunny is really
great to chill to. Especially this song.
I guess first of all
I want to say that Neon Bunny is a great singer. I love her voice. She almost sounds a little like the crooners
that would drape themselves across pianos.
You know the ones I’m talking about?
No? Dang. Real old-style, slow and soft and sweet but a
little sultry too. She has this ethereal
voice, breathy, very pure with none of the extras thrown in. Not that the extras aren’t nice. They totally are. But sometimes you long for something simpler,
you know?
Oooooh! And fireworks?! Nobody told me there was going to be
fireworks! Seriously, people, where were
you when I was being informed about this mv?
Huh? Just kidding. In all reality, the fireworks are so neat,
especially with the focusing the way it is, so they’re blurry and they fade out
really fast behind her face. You get the
feeling like she’s being filmed outside at a party, but not actually part of
the party. It’s like a memory sequence,
and with all the overlaying of the different shots, it’s really neat.
I love how you get
almost-glimpses of her face, you can even tell what she’s wearing, but you are
never… Quite… There… She’s playing with
our minds, that’s for sure.
I love the light play
in this music video! I really can’t get
enough of it. At first you get her
silhouette with lights behind, then you get fireworks, and then you get the
feeling of, almost being inside a vehicle and lights flashing past on the
window. But she’s still there outside
it. And then you get her and some guy in
glasses dancing in front of the fireworks!
(Were they at a party? Were they
in love? What?)
Definitely artsy,
definitely fun to watch, goes so well with the song. It reminds me of something I would listen to
in the car on the ride home late at night from my grandmother’s house or
something.
It takes real talent
to convey something to people who don’t even understand your language. This music video leaves me wondering about
it, and knowing I haven’t guessed all the answers, and that is also amazing,
because if your audience is left questioning, they always come back for
more.
Was she remembering
when she was with this guy in the glasses?
Or is she singing now about their happy relationship? It doesn’t really feel that way with the way
the song sounds, but it is possible. For
those of us who don’t understand Korean, it’s kind of like a guessing
game. Where you sometimes don’t get the
answer to the riddle!
The song is really
amazing. And it grows and grows on
you. Not like fungus. More like a happy tree, or some kind of nice
grass… Anyway *cough*. The slow
movement, the snapping at the beginning, the chimes, the very deliberate beat
all make for a great song to just chill to.
Her voice mixed with the romantic/melancholic sound of the song just
combine to make the perfect piece to chill to… Cry your eyes out to… You know,
whichever you’re in the mood for at the time.
If you haven’t seen
it yet, here it is:
If you’d like a
specific song, or artist for next week, go ahead and drop me a comment. I promise, I can’t bite through the computer
screen. Hard as I may try… J/K, I really am nice!
I’d love to hear what you have to say about
Neon Bunny or any other “chill music” artist.
Yeah, yeah, it’s not
technically Indie. And I suppose it's not really "chill". But I don’t recall
saying that I would only do Indie music on the CMS, and I really love this
song. It’s definitely great to chill to... In a very, rock/metal sort of way.
First thing I noticed
was her RED PLAID PANTS. Well, tights/leggings
really. And may I say, they are quite
wonderful? Yes I may? Oh good.
I enjoyed that they
kept that whole red and black theme running through most of the video. Well, except for that weird inside shot in
the white room where she’s wearing those weird star pants? The best thing about that shot is that the
bassist is wearing an outfit with a skeleton all the way down. Yes, that’s right. A life-size skeleton. Pretty much awesome.
The video was
wonderful how they shot it in the forest and there were dreamy crystal
chandeliers for lighting around them (but on the forest floor, not above them—how
does that work? SM probably couldn’t figure out how to hang them in the trees…)
and the lighting and the view were all a little blurry so that it seemed like a
punk-rock fairy-tale dream. Then they
move it to this white room, and I don’t even want to comment on that, because
it was cool, but the forest was cooler.
Ha ha, and the second guitarist was totally posing in the white room
(another thing beside the skeleton outfit that was awesome)! Anyone else find that hilarious?
The song:
First, I suppose, is
that I love that this is an actual band playing actual instruments. Yes, I do love the boy and girl bands out
there, but the addition of instruments to a band makes them an actual “band”
and I love that. I also love that it’s a
female vocalist with an otherwise all-male band. Those tend to go fairly well, at least in the
States. Flyleaf. Paramore.
Halestorm. I suppose I just like
that sound.
It’s a wonderful
song, even though I can’t understand the lyrics. It’s got a great sound, mixing the electronic
elements with the actual instruments and the vocals to make a sort of rock sort
of wonderful song. Okay, maybe it’s not
chill (I'm so done apologizing for that), and my inner rocker is just crying out to write about it. I could listen to this song on repeat for hours. It really never gets old.
Last I suppose: I love
the outfits! Well, mostly. I love her leggings, love the bassist’s
skeleton outfit, love the guitarist’s whole wardrobe, and definitely love the
drummer’s gray top hat. And really, that
is the most noticeable thing about a drummer: his head, at least until he gets
out from behind the drum set.
If you haven’t seen
the video yet, you should check it out here:
And I'm going to work on getting a poll up for the next Chill Music Stash so you darlings can vote!
Yes, I have Simon and Martina to thank for bringing me to Ondahl and Gosu. I pretty much love these guys (Ondahl and Gosu). Really.
On to the video!
I adore the video. It really fits the sound of the song so well. The editing is well done so that you get the changing of the shot with the beat of the music, which is almost like a marching-band type beat at the beginning. I like that with the change of the music, less of a beat and more drawn out, you get longer shots, and then back to the beat.
I love the golden sunlight wash over everything making the day seem laid back and chill. I love how at the beginning of the music video the shots are very close and you don’t get a lot of scenery with everything, so they could be anywhere with a road and stone walls and concrete houses and trees. I love his shoes.
I love that you don’t get full body shots of them playing their instruments. You mostly get their heads and feet cut off with their instruments in the middle, or shots of their torsos as they are walking, or shots of their feet as they are stepping. The stepping thing is way fun. Too often you see just shots of the artist or band playing their instruments interspersed with random scenes of what they are singing about. I loved that shot of the guitar strings vibrating. So creative.
The song:
I freaking love this song!!!
It has such a great sound, with the instruments having their own voices but being put together into a song that is chill and wonderful. I love that it doesn’t try too hard, and that it both makes you want to nod your head and just relax at the same time. Perfect song to chill to, really. I have no idea what they are saying, because I can’t speak Korean (yet!). Sorry darlings.
Overall, I just love this song and this video. It’s one of those videos that I could just watch over and over. Right up my alley. If you have any suggestions for the next Chill Music Stash addition (whether it’s a music video or just a song), please add your comments. I may even get a poll up. We'll see.
And also, if you have more info on the band, that would be great. I am not sure, but Ondahl is the guy with the glasses, and the band is called Gosu? Really, I can’t read Korean, and Indie bands don’t get marketed in English like mainstream Kpop groups do. So any info you would like to give would be greatly appreciated!
Here’s the link for the music video if you haven’t seen it yet:
Next wee I am thinking about doing J-Min, "Stand Up". We'll see how that goes.
