The theme of this list is girl power, and I promise you it came about by accident. Surprisingly, though, there is absolutely no kpop at all in this list!
No kpop in a "What I've Been Listening To"? Is the apocalypse already here?? Truth be told, kpop has been boring me lately. Recently, the number of scandals outweighs the number of good songs put out in kpop, which is why I've been avoiding the genre. But we all need a break from our usual tastes and preferences anyway, right?
1. "Play" - Jolin Tsai
Before you cry "But Jenn, you said there'd be no kpop in this list!", this isn't kpop. It's tpop, or Taiwanese pop to be specific (though I'm not sure if it's really called "tpop" because there's also Thai pop...Mandopop ?). This song is one of the best things to come out of popular music this year. I haven't felt this astounded since I found out about BABYMETAL. If you've delved into Taiwanese pop, you've definitely seen a Jolin Tsai music video or two. By looking at her, you wouldn't be able to tell that she's been in the industry for over 16 years. "Play" sounds like it should come from a groundbreaking newbie group like FEMM, but the fact that it comes from this pop veteran is a pleasant surprise.
And aside from the song being an obvious banger, the music video is a treat, too. I truly believe "Play" has the viral potential to become the next "Gangnam Style", or at least the next "Bar Bar Bar". It's topical and hilarious, poking fun at our generation's competitive nature and strive to become "famous"--whether it's actual fame or internet fame. Though angry Girls' Generation fans pointed out how similar the video is to the subunit TaeTiSeo's "Twinkle", it's all just hogwash and only adds more views--which is great for Jolin Tsai. Thanks for the YouTube views, angry Girls' Generation fans!
2. "Fly Before You Fall" - Cynthia Erivo
This song is a strange choice considering how I just wrote a post about how singing well really doesn't matter. It's a simple song with just a piano, a few effects here and there, and Cynthia Erivo's voice taking center stage. I first heard it while watching the trailer for Beyond The Lights and I was immediately smitten. I have to admit, it wasn't Cynthia Erivo's voice that made me love this song, it was the lyrics. I tend to not care about lyrics so much because, hey, I listen to kpop! I barely understand what they're singing about most of the time! But just take a look at these lyrics for "Fly Before You Fall":
It's in the moments when you're left all on your own
And it hits you from out of nowhere
You try to hide it sometimes unsuccessfully
With a smile that fades quickly
And it hits you from out of nowhere
You try to hide it sometimes unsuccessfully
With a smile that fades quickly
I don't like to talk about my personal life too often, but I've been going through a lot emotionally. I recently started my new job and moved out of my parents' home (presumably for good). It's a big transition and sometimes loneliness hits me out of nowhere. And I know this is going to sound cheesy, but somehow I don't feel so alone whenever I listen to this song.
3. "Stay With Me (Sam Smith cover)" - FKA Twigs
Fun story about FKA Twigs: I started listening to her when I saw her music video for "Two Weeks" pop up all over Tumblr. For a while she remained relatively indie, and while she was indie, one of my friends suggested we go see one of her concerts in the area before she eventually blew up and became a huge star that charged astronomical prices for concert tickets. I remained confident that I'd still be able to buy tickets the day of the show...until I found out she was in a high-profile relationship with Robert Pattinson (still is!) and saw her performance on Jimmy Fallon. It was game over. There was no way I could get tickets even just a week in advance of her concert. She had already become relevant in mainstream media. But then again, shouldn't we be happy when our favorite indie artists become mainstream/successful?
Anyways, listen to her cover of Sam Smith's "Stay With Me". She takes a sentimental, gospel-sounding song and turns it into what I call "alien trip hop". Pro-tip: this cover is best listened to while watching a lava lamp.
4. "All My Love" - Ariana Grande & Major Lazer
This entry comes fresh off of The Hunger Games' Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack (which was curated by Lorde!). I don't care too much for the dystopian film and book series and the only song I really enjoy from Lorde is "Team", but sweet buttery Jesus is this soundtrack good! Though I can't imagine how this song would fit into the movie, I can totally imagine jamming out to this in a club...or just through my headphones as I hardcore clean my house.
In "All My Love", Ariana Grande leaves most of her Mariah Carey-lite vocals at home, allowing Major Lazer's hard-hitting dancehall-inspired beat to be the main focus here. Now that I think about it, I can probably imagine this song fitting into a "party at the Capitol!" scene in the movie, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
5. "Say Something" - Karen Harding
Karen Harding had her start as a contender for the X Factor UK, and you know how much I love talking about reality television singing competitions. For her debut single, I'm glad she didn't use a ballad just for the sake of showing off her voice. This MNEK-produced, 90's EDM-style dance hit still shows off Karen Harding's voice, but also allows herself to have fun without having to needlessly remind us "Hey! I can sing!! Remember me???"
And may I remind you that she didn't win X Factor UK. Shows how you can still get a chance to make it in the industry without having to win a singing competition!
I hope this was a good compromise instead of doing another #songtorture! Let me know if any of the songs I recommended ended up becoming one of your favorites!
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