mariner's revenge song

If you've never heard The Decemberists, then you're in for a treat. I fell in love the first time I heard them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. The video is just the lyrics, but you really don't need to read them. Just enjoy the song.



If you can't see the video, click here.
For more on The Decemberists, click here.

sally's song

Halloween is coming up...

Usually around this time, I find the need to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas. I absolutely love that movie (and lucky for me, so does Japan...it's everywhere).

As I'm waiting to get the chance to watch the movie, I've been listening to this song. It's so beautiful and it puts me in that Halloween mood.

This is a cover of the song, done by Amy Lee.



Enjoy.

For more on The Nightmare Before Christmas, click here.
For more on Amy Lee, click here.

rain

So...I'm obsessing over Mika once again. This time, it's the song, Rain. This song is from his new album and it gets stuck in my head. This is the song on the CD that after it plays, I want to play it again. I think, mostly, I just want to shout out, "I HATE DAYS LIKE THIS!"

If you haven't checked out Mika's new album yet, I totally recommend it. It's brilliant and stands out in the world of pop music.

As usual, I hope you enjoy.



If you can't see the video, click here.
For more on Mika, click here.

the reign

I find this instrumental to be beautiful and relaxing. On the original album, it has lyrics, but I honestly think this song was meant to be an instrumental. The lyrics sort of kill it for me. Plus, when she sings, "Big, free..." I think it sounds like she's going to sing, "Big freak..."

So I've provided this beautiful instrumental for you to enjoy. The original song is from Tarja Turunen's solo album, My Winter Storm. I own a copy and there are some true gems on there. However, I can't decided if the gems are worth the crap you have to listen to to get to them. Seriously, there are some songs that drive me crazy because they seem so horribly put together.

Then, again, I shouldn't call them crap. I'm sure somebody out there thinks a song I think is crap is their all-time favorite song. So I take back the crap statement--without deleting it from the text. Yes, just listen to me ramble. I've been in a rambling mood.

PS I haven't watched the video, so I don't know what pics are contained in it. I just listen. Heads up.



Isn't it a beautiful instrumental. I've been listening to this as I do my writing. Yay, for a new story! Helps me escape the everyday life that is driving me nuts right now.

And this song helps, I think. It's just so pretty.

Okay, I'm done rambling; I promise. For now.

For more on Tarja, click here.

happy ending

Because I'm still on a Mika kick....and I think this video is just freakishly awesome. I can't get enough of it. I can't believe I've only recently discovered it.

Anybody else think of The Labyrinth when they see the talking hands?

As always, hope you enjoy...

Unfortunately, I can't embed the video, so I'll just leave you with a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl4WN-aOWDY

For more on Mika, click here.

we are golden

Mika has a new album out! Chris and I both love it! It's fantastic! Here, I would like to post the only video out, as of now, from this album. It's not my favorite song on the album, but it is awesome, just the same. Today is actually the first time I've seen what Mika looked like, so, it's been a new experience!



If you can't see the video, click here.
For more on Mika, click here.

tegami, knockin' on heaven's door

When I first came to Japan, there was this song I would hear playing on the radio in some shops and restaurants that really touched me. The problem was, I had no idea who the artist was or what the title of the song was.

When some students told me that their favorite song was "Tegami," I had a strange feeling that this was the song that was haunting me so much. I always meant to look it up, but didn't get around to it.

When going out with friends, the song would come on, and I'd be like, "Wait! Who sings this?!" but nobody could tell me, or nobody could hear the song that was playing.

This was way back when we first arrived.

Just the other day, I was at a junior high school where I work and the students were playing a version of a student choir singing it. I immediately asked the closest person, "Who sings this?"

I was told Angela Aki. The music teacher informed me that Angela Aki wrote this song, as well.

I went home that night to check her out. Turns out, her mother is Italian-American and her father is Japanese. She speaks/sings in both English and Japanese.

I have personal reasons for being so attached to this song. Even if you can't understand what she's singing, you can feel the power, emotion, and beauty in this song.



If you can't see the video, click here.

I've also been obsessing over her interpretation of Dylan's, Knockin' On Heaven's Door. You should definitely check this out:



If you can't see the video, click here.

For more on Angela Aki, click here.