Today's topic in lieu of exams: Music mash-ups. They are all over the internet. All those budding DJs with way too much access to pretty electronics and audio programs seem to find it necessary to showcase their skillz by plugging several songs together. But if you look hard enough, there's a couple of gems in there. I'm pretty sure everyone here reading this has heard Usher's "Yeah" vs. Britney Spears' "Toxic" and most of the ones from Jay-Z & Linkin Park's album. How about some of these other ones?
Interpol vs. M.I.A. - Mammoth Boys
The reason I've been inspired for this rec. I think the best attribute of music mash-ups is that they make songs good. I'm not really partial to any of M.I.A.'s music (Have you heard of her? Her story is pretty cool. Sri Lankan-British rapper who's father is a Tamil activist-militant), but this song is very get up and go and totally awesome. Give it a listen. Actually, give it two. The first time I heard it, I was like "eh?". It's a little weird. But now I play it every other song. I just might get sick of it soon, I've played it so much.
The Arcade Fire vs. Black Eyed Peas - Hump My Tunnel
Okay, I have to admit. It's partially because the title cracks me up. I absolutely HATE "My Humps". Totally and utterly. I swore everytime it came on the radio --- it's like "Hey There Delilah". I have absolutely no clue in hell why it's so popular. But this version? It almost makes up for it (my hate is pretty strong). The Arcade Fire is amazing like that.
Jay-Z & The Verve - Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Bittersweet Symphony Remix)
Someone somewhere had too much time on their hands and realized that "Bittersweet Symphony"and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" have exactly the same beat. Not that I'm complaining. It totally rocks. I mean, who doesn't love "Bittersweet Symphony"? I totally faked out my roommate the other day when I played this song because she was singing along to the Verve part, only to be completely confounded when Jay-Z started rapping.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Desert Island Discs
I was reading something and it reminded me about that one radio show Desert Island Discs. (longest-running music program since 1942 to the present). Essentially it's a show where famous guests are asked to choose eight pieces of music they'd bring with them if they were to become island castaways. And I was thinking how ANNOYING that must be to hear those same eight songs for the rest of your life. Just imagine listening to A Bay Bay and Crank That for the rest of your life. I'd kill myself within a day.BUT after much consideration and thought I DID think of one song that I wouldn't mind. It was released back in 2001 by the supergroup (it's a real term) A Perfect Circle. The song's called 3 Libras and it was released on the album Mer de Noms (Latin for "Sea of Names" mysterious isn't it?). The funny thing is I don't even like APC very much, but I'd have to name this song one of my favorites of all time. Apparently the songs of the album are dedicated to people that the lead singer knew; and 3 Libras was dedicated to 9 people with birthdays around that time and is about "being overlooked". Anyways it's a wonderful song and anyone that appreciates rock at all should definately check it out if they haven't already. *EDIT* listen to the last bit starting at 2:45 cuz it's the best part!
By the way, the most requested song in the show's history was the Fourth Movement of Beethoven's Ninth (for the woefully ignorant, that's Ode to Joy) which gets ridiculously SICK at around 4:15.
The Pierces
In one of the recent previews of Gossip Girl "Hi Society"(video quality not that great...go to www.thewb.com for a better version), they used one of the Pierces songs' "Three Wishes". I think the sounds of the song really fits well with the Romantic period. That melancholy, hoplessness and all (yea i'm learning about that in my fashion history class, it's pretty interesting).
The pair are sisters; Allison and Catherine were raised in Alabama. Their voices are alluring. Some of their songs are like a mixture of that class from 1930's and this gypsy mysteriousness. Check out their myspace. Their entire album Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge is available to listen to on their site.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Do They Know It's Christmas?
Today was wonderfully white. Exactly what I needed to put me in a Christmas mood. So I spent the last hour or so grabbing Christmas music off of the net. It seems like every band and singer ever at some point in time has recorded at least one holiday song. All the better, I say!
A couple of my sources:
Some of my own personal favorites:
I really really can't wait for Christmas. Gotta love the Holidays. (By the way, Happy Hanukkah everybody! It's the second day! The menorah painted on the Fence told me so.)
A couple of my sources:
- savvy_elf on livejournal is running a Christmas music meme where people are uploading and sharing their favorite Christmas music.
- sideshowkat (also on livejournal) uploaded an awesome amount onto box.net (note to self, consider using box.net instead of zshare.net. It's so pretty!)
Some of my own personal favorites:
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
I only wish I could have gotten tickets to go see them when they were here in Pittsburgh... - New York Philharmonic - Carol of the Bells
More orchestral music, but Carol of the Bells is my most favorite classic Christmas song. - Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas
The one everyone knows and there's a reason for that!!
Mariah Carey - Jesus Oh What A Wonderful Child
Mimi gets double because I used to have her Christmas cd when I was a kid, and you know what? It's still my favorite Christmas cd. I still remember how ridiculously skinny she looked on the cover. - Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip - O Holy Night
New Orleans jazz musicians with their take on O Holy Night. It's beautiful. - Robert Downey Jr. - River
Got a problem with that? He's IRON MAN!
I really really can't wait for Christmas. Gotta love the Holidays. (By the way, Happy Hanukkah everybody! It's the second day! The menorah painted on the Fence told me so.)
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
"I Love The Nightlife"
Let's go old school.
Song: "I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'Round)
Artist: Alicia Bridges
There are some nights where you just need some good disco music. Tonight is that night for me. And what's better than one hit wonder Alicia Bridges? Everyone has heard this song at one point or another, there's no way you haven't, but damn, I love this song. No joke, I am dancing in the hallway to this song right now. Like, right as I type this. At 4 am. Very suiting no?
I've got to boogie!
Song: "I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'Round)
Artist: Alicia Bridges
There are some nights where you just need some good disco music. Tonight is that night for me. And what's better than one hit wonder Alicia Bridges? Everyone has heard this song at one point or another, there's no way you haven't, but damn, I love this song. No joke, I am dancing in the hallway to this song right now. Like, right as I type this. At 4 am. Very suiting no?
I've got to boogie!
Monday, December 3, 2007
My Two Favorite Things
are videogames and music so it's a wonderful thing when they're put together. Like every good asian guy, I keep an eye out on game trailers and get ridiculously hyped up for games. If you watch TV you might've seen this trailer for Assassin's Creed.
And I was pleasantly surprised by the song choice. None other than Teardrop by Massive Attack. It's such an odd dreamy song. I first heard it ACTUALLY through a cover (or as they like to say "a song we wish we wrote") done by the greatest band in the history of bands. Incubus. It's a live recording but still AMAZING.
btw Michael and I started a new blog, it's gonna be on whatever the hell we feel like, so expect a lot of gaming related things. Check it out at http://dingiblog.blogspot.com
And I was pleasantly surprised by the song choice. None other than Teardrop by Massive Attack. It's such an odd dreamy song. I first heard it ACTUALLY through a cover (or as they like to say "a song we wish we wrote") done by the greatest band in the history of bands. Incubus. It's a live recording but still AMAZING.
btw Michael and I started a new blog, it's gonna be on whatever the hell we feel like, so expect a lot of gaming related things. Check it out at http://dingiblog.blogspot.com
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The Cake is a Lie
On October 10th, Valve released it's gaming trifecta of goodness inside what is revered as the Orange Box. One of those games, Portal, manages to include one of the best songs ever. Very cleverly written and amusing to gamers and non-gamers alike, it essentially tells the story of a poor artificial intelligence named GLaDOS and her final thoughts of your progression in the game. Gamers rejoiced as almost no other ending could have fit this game as perfectly. The song itself has a catchy tune and enjoyable lyrics that will tickle your funny bone.
One thing I'd like to say first is that if you want to enjoy this song in its full glory, you need to play through the game Portal (takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete the entire storyline, fairly short for a game). After that the song gives you an exponentially higher amount of joy and satisfaction. For those of you who haven't played the game are listening for the first time, I'll provide a quick synopsis
**Spoiler alert for those who haven't played Portal yet**
Basically you are a cyborg in a test chamber who has to complete a myriad of puzzles involving portals. Narrating and watching your every move is a highly intelligible AI named GLaDOS, of whom has a very sadistical and evil, yet robotic attitude and nature. The entire time GLaDOS offers "delicious cake" to you as a reward for completing a puzzle. All the puzzles are solved with something called the portal gun, which basically allows you to shoot 2 portals at the wall, an orange and blue portal. If you go in one portal, you come out the other. This creates really neat situations like infinite loops. Near the end of the "exercise course" you find out that GLaDOS is trying to kill you, and you manage to get away and use the portal gun to escape from the underground facility and destroy GLaDOS.
**End of spoiler**
And now here it is, Still Alive as performed by Ellen McLain, the voice of GLaDOS.
One thing I'd like to say first is that if you want to enjoy this song in its full glory, you need to play through the game Portal (takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete the entire storyline, fairly short for a game). After that the song gives you an exponentially higher amount of joy and satisfaction. For those of you who haven't played the game are listening for the first time, I'll provide a quick synopsis
**Spoiler alert for those who haven't played Portal yet**
Basically you are a cyborg in a test chamber who has to complete a myriad of puzzles involving portals. Narrating and watching your every move is a highly intelligible AI named GLaDOS, of whom has a very sadistical and evil, yet robotic attitude and nature. The entire time GLaDOS offers "delicious cake" to you as a reward for completing a puzzle. All the puzzles are solved with something called the portal gun, which basically allows you to shoot 2 portals at the wall, an orange and blue portal. If you go in one portal, you come out the other. This creates really neat situations like infinite loops. Near the end of the "exercise course" you find out that GLaDOS is trying to kill you, and you manage to get away and use the portal gun to escape from the underground facility and destroy GLaDOS.
**End of spoiler**
And now here it is, Still Alive as performed by Ellen McLain, the voice of GLaDOS.
Breathe Me- Sia
I love this songg...another sad-ish song. It's one of those hopeless, helpless songs. The beauty of sadness. 'Breathe Me' was used in the show Six Feet Under. The video for this song is really crazy.
The Scientist-Covers
I'M BACK...i haven't post forever. But I've decided to do a new entry before all my old ones. =p
Okay so I was listening to Coldplay-The Scientist. Love that song. It's such a sad song. And the video just kinda makes it a little sadder. But I was trying to sing it by myself in my room, and i realize I can't sing so low, so i wanted to find a cover by a female singer.I end up finding out that Natasha Beddingfield did a cover of it and so did Avril..which i can't find. But a singer called Johnette Napolitano also did a cover of it. Natasha Beddingfield's cover is more Indie...i like to think. And then Johnette's is more...goth-y. At least that's the vibe I get, see what you think. I still prefer Coldplay, no one sings it as heartfelt as Chris Martin does.
On a side note...go to the Coldplay website and look at the video under 2007 November. It's a bunch of PhotoBooth(Mac picture taking app) pix linked together..it's kinda cool.
Ps: what ever happend to Daniel Beddingfield?
Okay so I was listening to Coldplay-The Scientist. Love that song. It's such a sad song. And the video just kinda makes it a little sadder. But I was trying to sing it by myself in my room, and i realize I can't sing so low, so i wanted to find a cover by a female singer.I end up finding out that Natasha Beddingfield did a cover of it and so did Avril..which i can't find. But a singer called Johnette Napolitano also did a cover of it. Natasha Beddingfield's cover is more Indie...i like to think. And then Johnette's is more...goth-y. At least that's the vibe I get, see what you think. I still prefer Coldplay, no one sings it as heartfelt as Chris Martin does.
On a side note...go to the Coldplay website and look at the video under 2007 November. It's a bunch of PhotoBooth(Mac picture taking app) pix linked together..it's kinda cool.
Ps: what ever happend to Daniel Beddingfield?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)