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They say “music transcends all barriers like language or cultural differences”. In so far with this activity, I have looked for 10 songs that pretty much exude diversity. These 10 songs are from different genres, style, release dates, countries (although I may actually gravitate towards South Korea since I’m such a K-pop fan), and artists. As an analytical listener, besides appreciating the lyrics or the message being delivered in the song, one should also have the ability to express one’s feeling when hearing the arrangement and the fundamental parts of the song like its melody or its beat. Here are my picks for this assignment.
Auditory Hallucination
Artist: Jaein Jang featuring NaShow
Genre: K-Pop/ Rap
Country Origin: South Korea
This song is an OST (Original Soundtrack) of an all time favorite Korean hit drama entitled “Kill me, heal me”. Listening to the song makes me think that the artist is trying to express longing for someone to rescue him/her and that the waiting period for that person to come is unbearable and painful. Hearing the song makes me wonder if I am longing for someone/ person or just something that I really want, let’s say a dream I have wanted to fulfill for such a long time. The rap lines make me feel anxious to almost angry because of that longing and it turns to sadness when the hook or the chorus part plays. I always listen to this song whenever I would experience a great loss.
All out of love
Artist: Jagged Edge
Genre: R&B
Country Origin: U. S. A.
The song is an R&B cover and rendition of the band called Jagged Edge. Although most of us may have recognized the song because it has been a staple when it comes to karaoke sessions and that its lyrics have already stained in our memories, whenever I listen to the song it just don’t feel the same way as what it is suppose to let you feel. To wit, I don’t feel all out of love at all. Despite the sadness in the song, I kind of feel happy or groovy when listening to it. I tried listening to the original rendition and I felt the exact emotions of what the song is trying to relay. Maybe it’s because of the vibe or the influence of Rhythm and Blues with this version that it makes me feel exactly the opposite of the song is all about.
River Flows in You
Artist: Yiruma
Genre: Instrumental/ Classical
Country Origin: Japan
This is a classic. I think I have first heard this through my best friend because she covers acoustic versions of some songs and that this was originally played in piano. The part where it is building up (00:50- 01:10) makes me feel excited and at the same time sad. I can almost imagine myself hitting those ivories with my fingers although I did not learn how to play piano at all. You know those orchestra conductors? I think I look like one whenever I would really engage with this song like my head tilting and nodding to the pace of the music. That very end part let’s me experience the idea of losing someone dear to me. It’s so melancholic and beautiful at the same time.
Wake Up
Artist: Coheed and Cambria
Genre: Rock
Country Origin: U. S. A.
Analysis: I think that most probably, millenials born from ’92 to ’99 have had the “emo” phase if not all. This song reminds me of those days to be honest. It’s a good feel song but at the same time devastating. The way the song was written is very simple and yet, it hits you hard. Perhaps that’s really the identity of the emo- music. When I listen to this song, I would imagine or feel like it’s raining not too hard but just right to let you fall asleep in the afternoon.
Stereo Love X Alors on Danse X C’est Beau La Bourgeoiese
Artist: Edward Maya
Genre: Bootleg/ Remix/ EDM/ Club
Country Origin: France
Analysis: There is a sense of meeting your one true love or let’s say your soul mate in the club or in the dance floor to be exact. That is what I think the song is trying to convey. When I listen to this, it makes me feel like I am time- travelling back to the early 2000’s for some reason. Maybe it is because of the way the song was arranged. It sounded like those tracks way back 2005.
Come Back Home
Artist: 2ne1
Genre: K-pop
Country Origin: South Korea
I think this is another song about longing for someone and as the title of the song suggests… to come back home. Whenever I hear this, I feel and think of any dystopian setting, a very futuristic kind of vibe or sound. There’s a part in this song which sounds like a little bit of reggae so when that part comes in, it makes me wanted to dance. There’s also a drop in the chorus that would make you wanted to nod your head to its beat because it is very catchy. I think it is that “come baby, baby, come, come, baby” part.
Akin ka na lang
Artist: Morissette Amon
Genre: OPM
Country Origin: Philippines
Represent! Besides my fascination on K-pop music, I also have a heart for OPM. This song in particular is totally my jam when we talk about it. What the song is trying to tell is almost like begging someone to be their lover by all means. When I listen to this song, the usual thing I would feel is that I feel like I’m the actual singer of the song. Well, given that it is written in tagalong makes it a home-run for lip syncing. The bridge part of this song makes me feel like I am soaring because of the singer’s high register and oh, never ending belting! It’s an amazing song to listen to, probably when you’re on the road, maybe on a bus sitting by the window and thinking of the what if’s.
Don’t give it to me
Artist: Hwasa and Loco
Genre: K-Pop/ Rap
Country Origin: South Korea
When I tried to get the meaning of this song prior me searching for the lyrics or its translation, I would think that it’s a song about flirting someone. But it’s more than that, I think it’s about caring for someone you like or love when they’re about to get drunk in a bar or a club. I’ll be honest, I always feel sexy towards this song regardless if it’s the melodic part being sang by the female singer Hwasa or the rap part done by loco. It’s extremely sexy to handle.
Appreciate you
Artist: Magic!
Genre: Pop/ Reggae
Country Origin: U. S. A.
What the song is trying to convey is more than just a person appreciating another person. It’s about telling the world that we are all needing to be loved and I guess it was mentioned in the first few lines of the song. What I feel about it is that I wanted to see the ocean or go to a beach and sip some pinacoladas or beer. It has this good- feel vibe about it that I really find endearing. It’s also one of those songs that relaxes me whenever I would do my homework and in fact I am listening to it right now as I type this.
BaDINGA!
Artist: TWRK
Genre: Pop/ Club/ Trap
Country Origin: U. S. A.
I wanted to end my playlist with a banger so I chose this last song. I am not particular with the message it wanted to convey but if I would make a guess it would be about an amazement towards a woman who probably commands the dance floor specifically when she “twerks” because it is indeed a song about twerking. This is one of those songs that make my blood pump and that it makes me wanted to work out or hit the gym. This song is my go-to song whenever I would walk my way to the office because like what I have implicated above, it gets me excited and do things. The Jamaican- “moombathon” influence of the song makes me feel like I’m one the coolest guys in the club and I think it’s awesome.
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