My Two Current Favorites

Zion.T (자이언티) Dok2--these guys are my two absolute favorites.  At least, right now.

I say "current favorites," because there are always new artists coming out, and new songs.  That's one of the things I love about the music scene--there is something for everyone, it seems.  And there will always be more, even if you have to wait for it.

That being said, I also feel like I love these two artists not just because of one certain song, or because of any bias.  I genuinely like the music they release, consistently.  Yes, I wish Dok2 would stop using the obligatory f-word in every song, and sometimes Zion.T... Well, I can't think of anything about Zion.T's music I would like to change.  We all see now where my true sympathies lie!

But, in all fairness and seriousness, I just enjoy these two artists.  I love listening to their music, I like watching them perform, I like the evolution of their music (except the f-bomb).

I don't remember when I first heard of Dok2.  Perhaps (and I'm pretty sure this is it) it was when I heard one of G Dragon's new songs--new at the time--and thought to myself, who is this "Dok-two character?  I like his voice."  Ha ha, and I know what you're thinking, but give me a bit of a break?  I was stinking new to the scene, and I figured everything out with a little bit of research.  And then I started listening.  And, slowly, Dok2 (pronounced: Dohk-ee) has turned into the artist I will go to when I am in a bad mood and just need something to listen to.

With Zion.T...  I think the first thing I saw him in was something he featured in (Choiza?  Gaeko?  Primary?), and I thought he was WEIRD.  Have you seen his music videos??  And the others he features in?  If you were a new fan, of the genre or even of Zion.T, would you really instantly like him, or would you think he was a little bit weird?  Because I know that I loved his voice--was instantly captivated--but was strangely both drawn and also made a little cautious by his performance.  By the time Babay came out however, I was enough of a fan that I loved every single second of the music video.  Zion.T has become one of my absolute all-time favorites.  I love listening to him, quite enjoy watching him perform, and have to laugh at his interviews.

And, since this is a music blog, about music... Here's Zion.T's debut song, featuring Dok2.  I know, can life get any better?  Probably not.

*wait!  It could get better if Dok2 were actually IN the mv...*

Do you have any stories about your favorite artists?  Who are they, and why are they your favorites?  Leave me comments, questions, requests... You know, anything that suits your fancy.  Of course, if you're gonna be a troll, I might sneer at my computer as I read.  Beware!

Keep listening to your awesome chill music, and I'll see you back here next week!  I'm sure I'll have something awesome for you :D

Tidbits: Startline (스타트라인), The Richard Parkers (리차드파커스), and Ashgray (애쉬 그레이)

Just a few songs and videos that I want to share today.  No deep analyzing (hopefully), no criticism, simply music that I really like and feel should be heard.

Let's start with The Richard Parkers (리차드파커스) with "On My Way to Sleep (자러간가)."

Beautiful instrumentals, very chill, AMAZING vocals, such a nice match.  Lovely song, perfect rainy day music.

I loved the name, too-- "The Richard Parkers."  Fun!

Next, let's do Startline (스타트라인) and their song, "Time Goes By."

Here's another group with MirrorBall Music.  These guys, though, are more of a rock sound, and I really like the change of pace.  From Chill to Rock.

They have a nice, straightforward rock sound--sometimes you just want to listen to something that is upbeat and fun like this.  A nod-your-head song, and then at the chorus you get to sing along with the "Whoa-oh-oh," and life is good again.

I like the description, too.  It tells us that Startline is a "melodic punk band" and their song contains a "hopeful message."  Yes.  Definitely hopeful.  So much love.

Last is 애쉬 그레이 (Ashgray) with "어린왕자," or, "The Little Prince."

This is a group of three guys (as far as I can tell), and they're under BigFoot Records.

This song, combined with this music video.  Wow.  Just, wow.  

I watched the music video and I was creeped out a little bit at first, because the sound was a little creepy, and it looked like it could be some kind of horror music video; but then it turned into this very interesting artistic video with amazing editing and shots and fantastic ideas behind it.

And the song?  Wow.  I love what they did with it, especially where they warp the vocals going into the chorus.  Sooo cool.  Loved it.

Have fun with your listening, and I'll see you soon!!  :D

Somebirds (어느새) - Korean Salamander (도롱뇽) and 소란(SORAN) - Your Love

We're taking a step into the past today, kiddos.  Hope everyone's okay with that.

Not too far, of course.  Just a couple of months.

First we've got Somebirds (어느새) with "Korean Salamander (도로뇽)."

When I first saw the link, I was being judgmental again, thinking I wouldn't like the song.  But, I did listen to it, and it is rocking and chill, and I absolutely love it.  It's a fun walking song.  You know--when you are walking somewhere and you want music that won't rush you, but you can just strut to?  This is it.

I love the vocals, but in a very, "I'm not sure they would work for me without the rock/laid back sound of the instrumentals" sort of way.  Very quirky and fun.  The band is so much fun, too!  I love the electric guitar, and everything else (the keyboard: oh yeah!!).

The video is weird but fun as well.  I don't like his facial hair, but it definitely fits with what he is trying to portray.  At the beginning he climbs out of a box, and encounters varying human interactions (mostly fights that he accidentally gets in the middle of) as he walks along.  The description says the song is about Korean youth whingeing (yes, they used that word, and I adore it!) about their "severe realities."  That was almost a direct quote.  It makes sense, because he goes through a lot of weird and tough things, randomly meeting up with his band every so often and singing and playing with them.

Also: cigarettes are GROSS!  I am glad he didn't light up, and I hope he kicks the habit.  Because, those things will kill you.

I love his round glasses.  I love how the video transitions from sepia tone to color every now and then, and at the end, I not only like the old guy standing in front of his box, but I also enjoyed that the main guy turned into a salamander after he climbed into the box.  Very different and awesome.

I also want to talk about 소란 (Soran) and their song "Your Love."

This video is live, so we don't really need to discuss it.  I mean, except for the fact that they TOTALLY have an UPRIGHT BASS!!  Bah.  I think the last time I wrote about Soran, I was geeking over that fact, too.  Ah well.  Gets me every time.

I absolutely love this song.  It's definitely been a while since it was released, but it is so pretty, and subtle.  So very chill.

His vocals are very prominent in the chorus, but I love the feel of the actual instruments behind him, especially during the verses.  The vocalist falls quieter there, almost making his voice a part of the background, blending so beautifully and seamlessly with the music.  So lovely.

The thing about Soran is, I love that they are an actual band.  And not a rock band.  I do love me a good rock band, but it is so nice to have that chill, relaxed sound to listen to, with actual, acoustic instruments.  I admire musicians all across the board (DJ's, vocalists, instrumentalists, etc), but something about this combination... This song just feels like a conversation, or a poem.  It's so personal and feels so well-thought out, but also almost impulsive.

Okay, now that I have made myself sound ridiculous, I'm going to stop.

I hope you liked both of these.  Maybe not as ridiculously as I did, but that's okay.  It'll get you one day.

Have a great weekend listening, and I'll see you soon!  :D

Freestyle(프리스타일) _ Winter Song(윈터 송) (Feat. Navi(나비)) Drop a Beat

Yes, this video was released in December of last year.  That's okay, I didn't get to talk about it, and I really like it.

Another thing:  I just copied and pasted the title into the little title section for this post.  There really are that many parentheses.  Not joking.

Okey Dokey.

Freestyle (프리스타일) feat. Navi (나비) with "Winter Song (윈터송)."

This song is so chill, and I love the Spanish influence they decided to run with throughout the song, even so far as to add Spanish phrases here and there.  I especially liked how the tone of those phrases were different than the ones that were part of the rap and the song, softer, almost like they were said at a point when the couple was still together.

I am in love with the guitar they've got in this.  Yep, guitar geek here, letting her freak-flag fly.  Of course... I don't know enough about guitars, but this sounds like classical guitar (I mean in the classical romantic way they're playing it--because the guitar did originate in Spain, and that's the sound they've got), and I absolutely love it.  My sister would freak out about the flute in there, too.  It's gorgeous.  Also--is that a harpsichord I hear?  Probably synthetic on a keyboard, but still!

The music video kind of gives me this lingering feeling of sadness, like it is something that happened--and while it is sad, it's no longer as devastating as it was when it first happened, and she is now able to let go.  At the very end of the video, she drops the locket which he (probably) gave her, showing us that she's finally over it (the break up, I guess). 

 I don't understand what she was walking through--it looked like a furniture store.  Maybe (from what I understand of the lyrics), she was ready to move on with their life, but he was not?  I mean, when they began the relationship, maybe she assured him it was enough, but then started wanting more, and he either wasn't ready, or just couldn't?  Total guesses there.

I did like how the viewer got shots of their relationship (or maybe it was her imagining how it could have been, as she IS walking through a furniture store).

I think my favorite thing about this song and music video is how chill it is, and how perfectly everything works together for a harmonic whole.  Their voices and her voice, the beautiful and smooth instrumentals... Amazing.

Thanks for stopping by for Drop a Beat :)  Keep reading if you want to hear my thoughts on profanity in music (and in anything, really), or just come back for Chill Music Stash later this week.

Profanity Rant Here:

I had some other songs I wanted to comment on as well (more recent, too), but they were all rife with profanity!  I have been known to put up with an f-word here and there (go ahead, scoff at me for not typing it out--I forgive you), but when it's once in every single chorus and verse, that's a no for me.  Don't worry, I'm even more frustrated than you are that hip hop artists are under the misconception that "forceful" means "profanity."  Not true.

I know I've talked about that before, but I don't know that I explained very well or thoroughly.  Profanity isn't a substitute for intelligence, it's not a way to express yourself.  When you use foul language, you sound like an uneducated thug.  Of course, I am listening to music from hip hop artists, who are kind of marketing toward the streets and whatnot.  I get that.  

At the same time, do you know how refreshing it is to not have to dodge foul language in a song?  Profanity is not only awful to me as a human being, but also as a person who loves language and embraces expression.  It is so much more creative and impressive when an artist chooses to go with language that actually expresses their thoughts and ideas.  Complexity is amazing.  Choose the RIGHT words and you not only impress those worth impressing, you confuse those not worth impressing.

A big vocabulary is, frankly, one of the most attractive traits a person can display.  Not only are you showcasing your intelligence, you are also honoring the people around you with the thought that you think they are intelligent and well-read enough to understand all of your big words.

Stay classy, peeps.  If I haven't frightened you off with my rant on profanity, I'll see you back here for Chill Music Stash on Thursday.  Keep up the chill listening! :D

The Nuts 더 넛츠, and Brand Newjiq 브랜뉴직

I have two new-to-me artists (one's a band and the other is a duo, from what I can see) that I ABSOLUTELY ADORE, and I almost didn't give either of them a chance!

Have you ever done that before?  You are looking at new music on your subscriptions on Youtube, or WHEREVER, and you almost don't listen to something, but then you DO, and you wonder where it has been all your life?  And then, you have to wonder, "What about that song I didn't bother to listen to last week, what if it was supposed to become my favorite song, but I altered my destiny because I just didn't listen to it?!"

Fine.  I'm being dramatic.  But, in all seriousness, I do wonder sometimes, what songs I should have listened to.

These two are just such songs.

The Nuts (더 넛츠) with "또르르" will go first.  I was being judgmental when I first started it, because I was just not in the mood to listen to anything except more rock-y music.  Also, sometimes I never know what kind of music it would be on that channel (it could very well have been more pop-esque).  The fact that the music video started out with talking didn't help me at the time, either.  Because I didn't get that instant like/dislike feel for the song.

BUT.

This song is pure gold.  It's beautiful without being too much of a ballad (not my favorite), the pacing is perfect, and the vocals?  Heaven.  The vocals are really what sold me on this song.  The instrumentals are great and everything (and really tie the song together in my opinion), but their voices are like a little slice of what I imagine a heavenly choir would sound like.  They are tidy and just powerful enough on the chorus, and just quiet and breathy enough where they want it to be breathy.  I really do love this song.

The music video is okay.  It's got kind of a story, and I really do enjoy watching the band (yeah, so I think they're adorable...), but the song is what sold it for me.  Sometimes music videos distract from the sound of a song, and I think this one might be a little bit like that.  I just prefer to listen.

Next we have 브랜뉴직 (Brand Newjiq) with "Stand By Me."  With this one, it was kind of the same thing.  It came from a source that I wasn't really in the mood for, but I decided to put it on my iPod anyway.  My "Listening" playlist.

Two days later, this was my new favorite song.  I am not even joking.  I went to my roommates and had them listen to it.  They thought I was a weird-y, but that's fine.  I know quality when I hear it, and I LOVE THIS SONG.

I have to say, I do not like his facial hair.  Not so much, no.  But, again, the vocals more than make up for that.  This song... *sighs* it's such a sensual, amazing song.  One of the comments below the video on Youtube is "eargasm," and, while I find that word wildly inappropriate, I agree with the sentiment.  This song is slow and swaying side-to-side in a smoky old-time club with a live band whispering into their microphones.

I love the keyboard at the beginning, and then his voice--smooth and a bit naughty.  Then the chorus with that sexy guitar.  Oh, just soooo good!  And then, there's that rap bridge!  But not really rap at first.  A whisper that leads up to his slightly more intense rap.

I, again, didn't pay much attention to the music video (the song drew me in), but I love black and white.  I like how the music video manages to suggest things (with the tie falling to the floor, and him circling her, and you can't see any of the background because it's mostly blacked out) without being completely inappropriate.

The guitarist was wearing something really weird, like Native American thing, but I did love the shots of just the neck of the guitar and him playing it.  Wow.

Let this be a lesson to you.  Give things a chance, and try not to judge.  You never know.  They could become your new favorite song!

Have a great weekend, listen to chill music, and I'll see you in a few!  :D

Drop a Beat Catch Up

Let's start out with a few things.

I am trying to become better and more consistent with my posts after falling off.  It's hard because I got out of the habit, and because I've been listening to other things (still love chill music and rap, though!) and because I wanted to do a catch up with some of the songs I missed.  That is super intimidating!!

The other order of business is this: I decided to call this section (instead of "Rap Corner," which I thought sounded a little bit silly), "Drop a Beat," which is actually the name of my rap playlist on my iPod.

With that stuff taken care of, let's go!  This is going to be fast and awesome!

Electroboyz, "Let it Rain."  This song just gives me chills.  It's like a perfect mix of rap/hip hop with an almost pop but chill sound.  I love the vocals, and I will always love a song with rain in the background.  This was fun rain, though--they had a random heavy drop every now and then that was super epic.  I also really liked the percussion that they had going on: not just some heavy dubstep, but what sounded like a real drum kit.  Nice.

This next is more "listening" music than "drop a beat" as such.  It's Mayson the Soul's "Holiday." And I love it.  In a much different way from "Let it Rain." Holiday is a head-nodding song.  I do love the vocals so much, I love the beat and rhythm, and I really enjoy the rap sections.  It's stylish but simple.  This is definitely a chill dancing song.  It's great!  And it features Beenzino, which is just perfect!  

I'm inserting a plug for Kanto in here.  I love a lot of his stuff, he's pretty much awesome, but I didn't want to add "Daybreak & Fly High" because I heard it's a cover?  Not sure, but I love basically everything he does.  Go check Kanto out.

Okey dokey.  Now for a deep, nod-your-head, awesome and sick beat-- Twangsta with "The Roots," feat. Hwaji (my apologies, I'm rushing through this and am not taking the time to type everything out in Hangul).  This song is not necessarily fun, but it's good for those days you just wanna be a gangster, you know?  Without all the... actual gangster-ness, right?  Am I the only one?  Okay, well, this track has fantastic elements to make the whole.  I love his laid-back rap style, not forcing it, like it's poetry, really.  The music part reminds me of the fifties, I think, and the old-school gangsters with their suits and hats.  It's got that swag laid-back feel to it.  Sweet.

Last (this is getting long) but definitely not least, I want to add Swings' "Bulldozer."  This was absolutely SICK.  When I think of sick rappers, Swings is definitely up on the top of that list.  This song--the beat, it echoes through the center of your chest; I would LOVE to hear this in a club, or something with HUGE speakers.  And Swings?  He just spits out words like he's got something to SAY.  I am almost never disappointed by Swings' songs.  Of course, the caveat: why all the profanity?  That's just dumb.  No one needs to hear it.  Done with that.  One last thing: that ending?  Holy cow.  Love it.

Don't let this list define you!  I also want to mention Double K, who recently came out with an amazing song; B free X Optical--holy creepy!  Okasion is a new artist I'm watching out for, and I do love the new Untouchable tracks.  Go have fun, and I'll see you back here for Chill Music Stash!
:D