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Today’s song comes as familiar to anyone that knows me. I’ve been in love with this song since I first saw the trailer for Edmond Pang Ho-Cheung’s Isabella. It’s from Portugal, thus in Portuguese, and it’s a song in the style of Fado, which is its national music genre. From the Hong Kong film Isabella’s soundtrack and from the album Fado Em Mim, it’s Mariza’s “O Gente da Minha Terra.”
Why? I literally listened to this song back-to-back to get inspiration for short film ideas because it happened to put me into that perfect melancholic mood. The vocals, the guitar, everything but the music video is damn near perfect. How can you NOT like this brilliant song? Chinese pop simply can’t make anything this.
Here’s a live performance of the song
And here it is, as used in the Isabella trailer, when I first fell in love with it.
Today’s song of the day can be found in either the album Songs from Wong Kar Wai’s Movie or The Private Press. The MTV was directed by Wong Kar Wai, which gave me extra incentive to put it on here. Musically, it’s pretty awesome too. Sampled from Colonial Bagshot’s “Six Day War” and Dennis Olivieri’s I Cry In the Morning,” it’s DJ Shadow’s “Six Days.”
Why? Because it’s a haunting little tune with a killer hook. Those bongo drums and the little jungle synth sounds all come together for cool non-hip-hop effort from the Bay Area’s own. Plus, the MTV is directed by Wong Kar Wai.
Here’s the remix that appeared in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which just blends the vocal with another DJ Shadow beat. Honestly, I think it sucks.
Today’s song of the day is a longtime favorite. I used to do it at Karaoke to a bunch of confused and/or bored faces who didn’t (and probably still don’t) know who Jun Kung is. Jun Kung is one of Hong Kong music’s most talented musician, with the reputation of being one hell of a drummer. This was one of the singles from his debut EP, while the version I have on CD features another talented singer Maggie Ko (who has since changed back to her real name Maggie Fu) edited into the second verse. Both these CDs are out of print, and good luck actually finding a Jun Kung solo CD in Hong Kong these days. Anyway, the song is “Love Space”
Why? Because the guitar intro is soulful, the vocals are smooth, the melody is groovy. It was far ahead of its time when it came out in 1999 (at least before Chet Lam brought back acoustic music to HK pop.
If the video doesn’t work (it didn’t work very well on ie, at least), try the live version on for size
Today’s song of the day is a fairly recent song by American band The Killers. While I enjoy the MTV for “Read My Mind” more out of personal connection to Tokyo, I honestly think their first single is a masterpiece. From the album Sam’s Town, it’s “When You Were Young.”
Why? Because its retro rock sound is hip enough that it feels refresh and familiar at the same time. It’s a hard task, but they seem to do it comfortably.
I thought long and hard about today’s song. It was originally going to be another song (which has been the case a few times), but upon looking around Youtube, I had found something that caught my attention more. So today’s song is a bit of an oldie (available on a compilation album) and was rediscovered from a cover done by Masami Nagasawa (although as the protagonist of the drama, not as Masami herself) last year when TBS adapted the story into a drama. It’s Hiroko Yakushima’s “Sailor Suit and Machine Gun,” from the movie of the same name.
Why? Because it’s an oldie but goodie. Because while Masami Nagasawa’s vocals are flat as any other pop idol, Hiroko’s version is more expressive, more alive.
(It’s the first song in the clip)
And here’s the 2006 cover by Hoshi Izumi (Played by Masami Nagasawa)
It’s not everyday that you have to choose one particular song to mark your blog’s 100th entry. But I decided to do it just the way I’ve always done it - just choose what I listen to. So today, the latest single by Japanese pop-rock band Remioromen, it’s Akanezora.
Why? Because it’s good. Just one of those little perks that comes with the 100th entry.
Thanks to Pedestrian Y’s comment, she has helped me found another cover of Mika Nakashima’s “Yuki No Hana.” After her comment, I was reminded of ANOTHER cover of it last year, and it’s a direct Japanese cover. These two covers have something in common - they’re both sang at unusually high key by men.
First, Park Hyo Shin’s Snow Flower (Thanks Pedestrian Y!), which you can find on this album.
Then, we have the Japanese cover, which was probably inspired by the Koreans’ ability to realize the song can be done with a male voice, done by Hideaki Tokunaga on this single (It was actually on the Oricon singles chart too).
I could sing it that high too, it’d just be creepy, and no one wants to see a video of THAT, right?
Today’s song of the day appears on three different albums - Mika Nakashima’s compilation “Best,” her second album “Love,” and also Hong Kong newcomer Vincy Chan’s second album “Flower Without Snow.” It’s Mika Nakashima’s “Yuki no Hana,” or “The Snow Flower”…..or “Flower of Snow,” depending on however your Japanese ability would like to argue with mine.
Why, especially since it’s Spring now? Because it’s known as Mika’s masterpiece, and unlike Lin Xi’s incredibly contrived attempt to adapt the lyrics into Chinese (Vincy’s delivery and the new arrangements are all fine), the imagery is beautifully conveyed in this original Japanese version. And it’s a damn beautiful song anyway.
Today’s song of the day is unfortunately only available in its incomplete version. It was never released as a single, and it’s available on three separate albums - The out of print compilation Early Times, Love Psychedelico III, and on the live CD Live Psychedelico. Me, I was at the show myself. It’s Love Psychedelico’s “Neverland.”
Why? Because it’s Love Psychedelico’s 7-minute ultimate emo epic. Because you could hear a pin drop in the Budokan when they did this song. Because I was damn near reduced to tears listening to lead singer Kumi deliver that final section, which is sadly NOT in the following video. This is all I can manage, but you can watch the whole thing on the DVD, which I also reviewed.
The Golden Rock is under the weather while trying to wrap up backed-up work. I’ll try to update again today or tomorrow, but first, enjoy today’s song of the day - Notorious B.I.G.’s Big Poppa.
Why? Because it’s Biggie Smalls, yo. Word. That’s right, throw yo hands in da air if you’s a true playa.
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