♪ mn music wonderland

Natasha Bedingfield - Soulmate (2007)

Every once in a while, I need a dose of my guilty pleasure super cheesy love ballads. Ok, I admit I love this super cheesy chart aiming hit big ballad, especially hearing her singing live, it’s just part of me. Scold me in whichever way you like.

genre: pop rock, pop
rating: 4/5 stars

Chet Lam (林一峰) - The Best Is Yet To Come (2003)

Similarly this calms you down. Good acoustic Canto-pop number. I think my heart always has a place for this little song, it’s always there even if I’m not huming to it or has it in my head. And he’s really likable.

genre: canto-pop, pop, acoustic, city-folk, folk
rating: 4/5 stars

We have to admit we’ve lost a great talent, and it’s time to remember some of her best moments. Amy only has 2 albums, while I think “Frank (2003)” is a great jazz/soul album, to be frank, um, my favorites all lie in “Back to Black (2006)”. Here are my 3 favorite Amy Winehouse singles:

You Know I’m no Good (feat. Ghostface Killah)

I surely love the album version but this remix version is just ace. It’s powerful, it’s fierce and more street, not necessary more street is great, but in this case, it’s wonderful.

genre: soul, jazz, r&b, alternative hip-hop
rating: 4/5 stars 

Tears Dry on Their Own

The title seems sad, but oh my dear, this is like spring, it’s beautiful and shiny all over the song you can feel it, the “sha-la-la” ending just confirms it! A very interesting and sturdy number and the video is interesting too, look at Amy in there, it’s quite funny, lol.

genre: soul, r&b 
rating: 4/5 stars

Love is a Losing Game

It’s dreamy and slightly sad. It’s also very soft, soothing. Despite the title, it actually doesn’t feel that bad after hearing it. And the flow is very good. Outstanding track.

genre: r&b, soul, doo-wop, jazz 
rating: 4/5 stars  

It’s probably Amy’s bad habits that took Amy’s life, but Amy’s an undeniably talented artist, let’s learn from her good but not her bad. I think she’ll be holding a place in many music lovers’ heart forever. 

M.I.A.’s tribute - 27

M.I.A. had made a song for her pal, it’s kind of typical M.I.A., I like it, have a listen. And the lyrics are kind of intriguing, have a look below.

27 by _M_I_A_

said your all mouth and no brains 
all rock stars go to heaven 
you said you’ll be dead at 27 
when we drunk in a English tavern 
the owner poured you the Bourbon 
and you drunk your self so rotten 
he got so rich he bought a Bentley 
and moved himself to Devon

you started dirty dancing 
and you bar tended a dozen 
i took you to the clinic 
to get you clean but you couldn’t 
said in 2 days ur 27 and and ur destiny was comin 
and ur papa passed so sudden 
and left you with lil somin

you blew that money on a mountain of drugs 
and staged your self a bedin 
a month later when i popped in 
your still high but the winter set in 
i bought you a coffee and a muffin 
and you quoted me some Lenin 
i wished i was that clever 
but thats what kept me coming 
your friendship did mean somin 
but you left me for nothin 
when i left, you befriended a rope 
and i found you both were hanging. 

Ok, stumbling into these 2 songs from these 2 bands has just renewed my love for Britpop/ British band sounds. One old, one new; one moody/sad, one happy, both nice, both brilliant:

Athlete - The Outsiders (2007-album/2008-ep) 

I’m down, I’m sad and I make this my accompanying sound. However this is smooth, this is inwards, this is superb, and somehow this soothes my mind a little bit..

genre: indie rock, alternative rock, post-britpop, electronic rock 
rating: 4/5 stars 

The Feeling - Set My World on Fire

I love “Sewn” and this renewed my love for their sound. And this is so happy, so if it is time to celebrate, celebrate with this song, ‘cos it seems nothing sounds happier than it recently… It’s like MEGA happy and it gives you strength. And… cheesy, oh yeah, I know why I’m so quickly in love with it now… lol

genre: pop rock, pop
rating: 4/5 stars

Faye Wong (王菲) - Ngum Yoong (暗湧)（1997）

Undercurrents… oh yeah, I do miss my Asian diva Faye Wong, I wish she can come back and record a whole new album. Meanwhile, I’m being nostalgic and revisit this wonderful song back from 1997. It’s evergreen. Even for today, it still sounds fresh and fabulous and touches my heart. Oh yeah, I suddenly realise I do miss her a lot, a whole lot. 

genre: pop, cantopop
rating: 4/5 stars

Macy Gray - I Try (1999)

I miss her weird weird voice and I really dig her debut album. There’s so many wonderful funky soulful tunes there. This being the most commercial one is still hugely likable and long lasting. I miss.

genre: soul
rating: 4.5/5 stars

If your heart and soul ever need comforting, I think these tunes suit the category.

Tori Amos - A Sorta Fairy Tale (2002)

I love Tori. She may have lost her fire, but I enjoy this calm Tori too. She’s just being herself, telling how she feels, whether it’s angry or pleasant. I have to say I prefer the album version though, the brilliance is extended.

genre: rock, pop
rating: 4/5 stars

Beck - Lost Cause (2002)

He’s quiry, I like that. This is mind soothing, lovely. This, however, comes as quite tamed, but I’m rather ok with it. :)

genre: folk
rating: 4/5 stars

Moby - Natural Blues (2000)

This comes from his 1999 mega album “Play”, so many wonderful things there. And this one is certainly comforting, with the use of some wonderful samples. It’s a little sad though, but I adore it, for some reason, this little song comes into my head from time to time. For the videos, I have to say I prefer the animated one, I like that slightly sad little fellow.

genre: electronica
rating: 4/5 stars 

V Day Special/Revisited: Aqua - Roses are Red (1996)

So besides this one, I have this one. I go for the super cheesy, lol~ I really think this isn’t that far away, but oops, it’s actually 1996 and it has a vintage feel already which I didn’t really realise before I went to revisit it. This one for the one I thought was warm and kind and a little silly, oops, it’s quite long ago also, lol.

genre: bubblegum pop, pop, europop
rating: 4/5 stars

Revisited: M.I.A. - Jimmy (2007)

Ok, let the celebration and exotic continues. Maybe people like her provocative side, to be honest, I like her fun, relaxed side which is fully reflected in this song. It’s such a strong, catchy, fun, exotic disco number I think many people will be immediately attracted to and move/ dance along. 

genre: disco, electropop, electronica
rating: 4/5 stars