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James Jams to “Jay”

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By James Zheng

Hello, everyone. I know we are reminiscing about our time during summer, but do not forget to enjoy the new school year. You especially must check out our school blog every DAY! Last year I did most of my posts about anime, movies, and games. This year, I will try to bring new and more creative posts to readers.

During my summer, I rediscovered a Chinese singer named Jay Chou. My only impression of him was from my childhood; the first time I listened to his songs, I  disliked his “lazy” singing style where you don’t know what he is saying unless you look up the lyrics. I did not have a good impression at first. However, one day I clicked on a video talking about the comparison between the top ten Chinese songs of 2005 and 2015. One of his songs was at number one in China 2005, and that made me interested in him again, and the things I used to dislike actually made him unique. 

Jay Chou’s career has always been marked by his dedication to the Mandopop (Mandrian Popular music) realm. When his first album came out in 1999, it was played everywhere on the street and soon made the top ten songs chart. Once Jay realized the opportunity was there, he charged up his music career and released more and more albums. His songs never get old, even though he has been making music for nearly twenty years. Each of his albums is still overwhelmingly popular nowadays around the whole of Asia. To give a personal comment on his songs, the complex level of lyrics and songwriting is still beyond most songs in recent years. 

So here are some recommendations. Some of them are more “James” subjective, while most of them are commonly recommended in the Mandopop realm. 

  • “Can’t Express Me (开不了口).” Released in 2001, this is the song I like the most. The change of the instruments adds a lot of improvement and meaning to the whole song.
  • “Secret (不能说的秘密).” Released in 2007, Chou also made a film with the same name. “Secret” is a light rock song.
  • “Common Jasmine Orange (七里香).” Released in 2004, this song is one of the most popular in Asia, awarded “Song of the Year” by the Asian music confederation. The lyrics are full of poetry and romantic meaning.
  • “Sunny Day (晴天).” Released in 2003, this is a charming song played with guitar. Nowadays, it is even more popular than “Common Jasmine Orange.”
  • “Nocturne (夜曲).” Released in 2005, this hit the top number one most popular song among the Mandopop realm. The rhythm is quite tranquil and smooth. Jay Chou also adds some Hip-hop into his vocal style.
  • “Silence (安静).” Released in 2001, the whole song remains almost the same speed and rhythm while being played with the piano. The song also has a strong emotional atmosphere.

And that is what I have for you guys. Chou still has tons of amazing songs to listen to, so check them out if you are interested. Try searching on YouTube, Spotify, Google Music, or Amazon Music. Lastly, I know that everyone doesn’t understand or usually listen to Chinese songs, but why not try it out just to see if you like the beat or the vocal style. You might want to welcome something fresh. New year, new music!

Editor: Luke Langlois

Music

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In keeping with our theme on “Welcome Back” or “What Did You Do Over the Summer?” Katelin submits a post on her favorite summertime (anytime) pastime–K-pop.

By Katelin Mei

Over the recent years, there has been a spike in popularity of K-pop, most likely because BTS and BLACKPINK have introduced the North American public to this genre of music. They have very eye-catching videos, and the members of every group tend to have a cute look. 

Image result for sana twice

My favorite groups

6. BTS – This was the second group that introduced me to K-pop. I like this group because I like their older songs like “RUN” and “Save Me.” I also like Min Yoongi because I find him cute.

Image result for bts

5. NCT – This is a very confusing K-pop group. They have many different sub-groups, like NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV. The different sub-groups release different music, but they are all under the brand name “NCT.” I like this group mostly because the people in NCT have fun and unique personalities. 

4. Red Velvet – This group is unique because of its varied musical concepts that they can pull off very well. They transition from having a “girl crush” concept in their song “Bad Boy” to a summery cute theme in their song “Power Up.” Unlike many other artists, they are never limited to one topic.

3. Dreamcatcher – I found this amazing group because of their latest comeback song “Piri.” They have a unique rock/anime style rarely seen in K-pop girl groups. My favourite song of theirs is “You and I.” They are releasing a new album soon, which I am extremely excited for.

Image result for dreamcatcher kpop

2. Momoland – MOMOLAND broke into the market with their song “BBoom BBoom.” Since they come from a small company, they once did not have many fans and were planning to disband after they released “BBoom BBoom.” The song blew up and brought MOMOLAND the followers and fans they needed, including me. They are a very attractive group, and JooE is especially pretty.

Image result for momoland

1. BLACKPINK/Twice – These two groups are tied because I love them equally, even though they contrast each other in concept. While BLACKPINK has a girl crush concept, TWICE’s aesthetic is very appealing and well done (see second photo). BLACKPINK has a special place in my heart because they were the group that introduced me to K-pop. Hopefully, they can do the same for you.

Image result for blackpink
Image result for twice kpop

Editor: Luke Langlois

These Songs are Actually Pretty Good

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By James Zheng, a surprise music critic blogger

Music, as a part of our daily life, has always accompanied us whenever we need it. And, according to what I have seen so far about what people usually listen to around me, it’s normally either rap music or pop music. I’ve included plenty of unknown songs worth recommending in this post; you might recognize them; maybe not. Let’s find out.

Overall, I categorized them by genre to give you a brief preview of each.

Rock Music

  • Simple Plan the band. Recommendation for their songs: Holding On and Take My Hand. Simple Plan is from Canada. I would consider them as derived from punk rock. I have listened to each of their albums; I am obsessed with their unique style; this style is second to none. They do not generate the conventional idea of rock that makes a very noisy track. They don’t do much heavy metal sound; instead, they have a very cheerful track style. And, before they put the sound of electric guitar in, they usually have a fantastic melody mixed with piano and bass. All of their songs are amazing.
  • Daughtry the band. Recommendation for their songs: It’s Not Over and Over You. Daughtry is from America, and they are more popular than Simple Plan. Their style is a little bit hard to define because they keep changing it in each album. The unique thing about Daughtry is probably the lead vocalist’s–Chris Daughtry’s–wild singing style. You feel like he is yelling, but in fact he is not. He just puts his emotion fully into the song as few people do.

Instrumental Music

  • String For a Queen by ELYZA/Xan. Speaking of instrumental music, String For a Queen is my favorite ever song. The beat keeps rising and falling, it is really unpredictable. In another words, you don’t know what’s coming next, but you are expecting something more, and eventually the better thing than the expectation comes. The String For a Queen has a really dreamlike beat which more sounds like a fantasy motif. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK075fzsDCM
  • Blue by Xeuphoria. Blue has a very tranquil beat. When you are nervous or restless, try to listen to this song and it could help a lot to calm your mind down and make you fall into the enjoyment of this quiet melody.

Electronic Music

  • Demons (Original Mix) by Paris Blohm.
  • Wolves by Selena Gomez, Marshmello.
  • I am not sure if electronic music is popular in America. I think that it is a huge improvement from traditional instrumental music. Initially electronic music was played without lyrics, but to further innovate and make it more exceptional, a DJ (Disc Jockey) decides to add the singing part in to make it better.

Popular Music

  • What Are Words by Chris Medina. This song has a touching story behind it. The incentive for Chris to write this song is due to an accident that happened to his wife. His wife got severely injured and needed a large amount of money to pay for the therapy bill. Chris decided to participate in the show American Idol and strove to get the reward so that he could pay for his wife’s medical bill. Although he was eliminated, the song left an intense impression. The track consists of piano and violin, which is a simple combination of sounds. But he has a great voice and captivating emotion in the song.
  • Color Blind by Matt B. Matt remixed an instrumental song called River Flows in You, and then made Color Blind. Matt has an unexpectedly unique voice; his singing style is quite natural and casual. And the whole rhythm of the song is really relaxing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BInjDfGMUlM

Anime Theme Music

  • Call of Silence by Gemie. Call of Silence is a interlude song within the anime called Attack On Titan 2nd Season. It is more likely to be a character song. The whole song is in English without a singing accent; you can understand the lyrics clearly.  
  • Red Swan by YOSHIKI/HYDE. Red Swan is the theme song for Attack On Titan 3rd Season, and most of the lyrics are in English. It is a light rock song fused with the sound of piano.

If you listen to music a lot and have not yet known these songs, I strongly suggest you to get know them. You might step into a new musical realm.

Behnke’s Bops

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Does your playlist need a shot of adrenaline? Makena has a new list of suggestions.

By Makena Behnke, Blogger Songster

here are some songs that for some reason hit me right in my feelings. some are happy, nostalgic, sad, or basically whatever other feelings i can think of. anyway, i love them.

  • Sorrento by Paul Anka
  • Someday by The Strokes
  • Dope on a Rope by The Growlers
  • Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by The Beatles
  • Threat of Joy by The Strokes
  • Not My Baby by Alvvays
  • Make Someone Happy by Jimmy Durante
  • Best Friend by Rex Orange County
  • Birthday by The Sugarcubes
  • Pablo Picasso by David Bowie
  • Modern Things by Björk
  • Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison
  • Be My Man by Jill Barber

Editor: Holden Hartle

My Musical Interests at the Moment

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By Music Critic and Blogger Holden Hartle

I’ve recently noticed that I listen to a lot of music that maybe other people haven’t heard of. When I find out that someone knows a band that I like, I become ecstatic, as if we are the only two people on Earth that know the artist. Of course, this isn’t the case. These bands and artists have millions of fans, but I still feel they deserve more recognition.

Grandson: When people ask about him, I always say that he is like a modern version of Rage Against the Machine. He combines hard rock moshiness with a trap drum beat, and his lyrics often revolve around political problems. He is releasing new music sometime in January and is going on his No Apologies tour shortly after.

Hobo Johnson and the Lovemakers: The frontman’s story is very humbling. Frank Lopez was kicked out of his house as a teenager and was forced to live in his car, and so he named himself Hobo Johnson. His music is very spoken-word-esque and explores his emotions as life just keeps on throwing obstacles at him. He has a European tour coming this winter, and he has announced that new music is coming soon.

This is the cover for Highly Suspect’s The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Highly Suspect: There are only three people in this band, but these three people make a lot of noise. They give a more hard rock feel to the alternative genre. They received a lot of success with their last album The Boy Who Cried Wolf (2016) but have since been quiet. I hope to see new music in the future.

SWMRS: They give off more of an old school punk feel. They gained a lot of traction with their debut album Drive North (2016), and have pre-released their album Berkeley’s On Fire. The album is set to release on February 15th, and they have a European/North American tour scheduled after its official release and will last until May. I highly suggest you take a listen.

The Blue Stones: The Blue Stones sound like if The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys collaborated. They have only released one album entitled Black Hole (2015), and it’s a bop with a wide range of sounds, ranging from hard rock to a bluesy tone. They are opening for Grandson on his upcoming tour.

Dominic Fike: He is my newest musical obsession. He mixes R&B style vocals with a more alternative approach to the instrumentals. His guitar chops and drum patterns add a nice rhythm to each of his songs. He only has one EP out called Don’t Forget About Me, Demos (2018), and I really enjoy it. The entire EP only takes fifteen minutes to listen through, so if you need something to enjoy on your drive home, I highly suggest some Dominic Fike.

Editor: Makena Behnke

baby it’s cold outside, but let’s warm up with these hot tunes

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By Makena Behnke

new music for a new holiday–even though these are not holiday-related songs, you may still enjoy them over your two-week break. this playlist  includes a multitude of different genres from different time periods. enjoy:

  • Dionysus by The Buttertones
  • The Killing Moon by Echo & the Bunnymen
  • A Nightmare on My Street by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
  • Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers
  • Ruby Tuesday by The Rolling Stones
  • Vivid Red By Misfits
  • Holy Toledo by Vundabar
  • This Old Dog by Mac DeMarco
  • Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind
  • Wilson (Expensive Mistakes) by Fall Out Boy
  • Happiness Is A Warm Gun by The Beatles
  • The Impression That I Get by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
  • Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard by Paul Simon

Editor: AJ Patencio

Ode to “Bohemian Rhapsody”

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By Holden Hartle

 

Queen has been in the media a lot recently, largely due to the movie Bohemian Rhapsody that came out last month. Since the release of the movie, Queen seems to be all that most music critics are talking about–a bit of a blast from the past. The song “Bohemian Rhapsody” is something where everyone goes, “Oh yeah, that’s a good song.” But, how did the song come to be?

The recent movie explains that after Queen released their first album, Freddie Mercury wanted to do something big and different, combining the vocal extremities of opera and the punchiness of rock n’ roll. And, after a long period of time composing in the country, the song was complete.

There was a lot of debate over whether or not “Bohemian Rhapsody” should be released as a single, as the song is almost six minutes in length. The record company was worried that the song was too long and that maybe it was a bit too avant garde. Needless to say, the song was released and was a huge hit. Its uniqueness is something that still strikes people today.

But what if the song was never released? Personally, I think the song is the work of a musical genius. This song fuses balladic lyrics with hard rock instruments, and operatic vocals. Yet, somehow, with all of these contrasting parts that dip into different genres, the song still remains coherent, and something that most people can immediately recognize from the piano introduction. But what if the song was never given the recognition? It is very possible that if Mercury wasn’t so adamant on the song being released as a single, it would have just been released as a part of the album and overlooked by a lot of people. Only the more hardcore fans would have listened to the song, because let’s be honest, even I only know Queen’s greatest hits.

It is kind of heartbreaking to think of a world without that song. Last year I went to a Green Day concert, and the introduction went like this. All the fans are talking to each other and suddenly, the lights go out. Then, in darkness, “Bohemian Rhapsody” plays before the band enters the stage. I was astonished as what seemed like every person in the stadium knew every word to the ballad. During the concert itself, Billie Joe Armstrong uses many of the crowd-hyping methods that Freddie Mercury did, i.e. the call and response method of singing a riff and having the crowd sing it back to you.

But now, back to the song at hand. Imagine creating a song with so much influence that a band from decades in the future will play your song in tribute, and that hundreds of thousands of people will be singing this ballad like it’s a hymn. But now imagine if that song was never released. Sure, life would go on, but only a select few would know of this fantastic song and its beauty.

The song deserves all of the media attention that it is currently receiving. The song has had several resurgences to the top of the charts, and, in my personal opinion, the song should remain on the charts for all time. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is so forward-thinking and is definitely unique from most other rock n’ roll ballads. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is truly beautiful.

Editor: Leo Milmet

music to my ears

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Need a song for a rainy day? a sunny day? any old day? To recover from the PSAT? Makena has just the song for you.

Compiled by Blogger of Eclectic Taste, Makena Behnke

 

i don’t like just one genre of music; i have a collection of different music tastes from different time periods. my music taste is basically whatever speaks to me. so, here are some songs that i enjoy and you might, too:

 

  • Homely Feeling by Hockey Dad
  • Pulling Mussels by Squeeze
  • Gravity by Architects
  • 5 Minutes Alone by Pantera
  • One Week by Barenaked Ladies
  • Words to Me by Sugar Ray
  • Kozmic Blues by Janis Joplin
  • I Won’t Share You by The Smiths
  • Rain On The Scarecrow by John Mellencamp
  • Calypso by Spiderbait
  • In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning by Frank Sinatra
  • God Only Knows by The Beach Boys
  • Love Test by The Growlers

Editor: Holden Hartle

songs to sing along to

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By Music Master-Blogger Makena Behnke

sometimes, we’re in such a good mood, and we just want to scream at the top of our lungs (out of happiness). sometimes that hurts your throat so instead of screaming here are some songs that you can dance to, hum to, sing along with, etc.

  • Habits by Machine Gun Kelly
  • Remedy by State Champs
  • Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard by Paul Simon
  • Cool for Cats by Squeeze
  • Dead Moon by Brick + Mortar
  • Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio
  • Bum Bum Tam Tam by MC Fioti
  • Psycho Killer by Talking Heads
  • Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners
  • Papa Don’t Preach by Madonna
  • Fashionista by Jimmy James
  • 18 And Life by Skid Row
  • 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

*Warning: some songs might contain swear words

Editor: Bella Bier

A List of Calming Songs

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By Claire Jenkins

Have you ever been in a mood that isn’t happy but isn’t sad and you can’t find the proper playlist to match your mellow mood? There are a lot of amazing artists out there with perfect mellow music that you may have never heard of. There are plenty of bands and artists out there with songs you could possibly enjoy. Below is a list of songs by less mainstream artists that fit the calming category perfectly.

 

Morning Breeze – Juke Ross

River – Leon Bridges

Alps – Novo Amor

Youth – Haux

Colouring – Kevin Garrett

Settle Down – Ziggy Alberts

I’ll Be Good – Jaymes Young

Saturn – Sleeping At Last

Bones – Dotan

Breathe – Luke Cusato

New Recording 135 – LEO

Berlin – RY X

It’s Alright – Fractures

The Story Never Ends – Lauv

You There – Aquilo

Anchor – Novo Amor

 

Did these songs fit your mood? Which was your favorite? Leave your answer in the comments below!

 

Editor: AJ Patencio