Choon of the Month: Go

Original video located here. Accessed 25th May 2015

Song title: Go

Artist: Chemical Brothers

Year: 2015

Why I like this song:

Despite being a lifelong fan of the Chemical Brothers, I have been cautious towards their more recent releases as they have come up short. Here, however, it seems Tom and Ed remembered what they do best: Thick bass line, huge beats, many electronic effects and help from Q-Tip. And Michel Gondry.
One gets the feeling Tome and Ed wanted to show this new breed of electronic/dance producers how it's done...

Obituary: Stand By Me

Original video located here. Accessed 4th May 2015

Song title: Stand By Me

Artist: Ben E. King

Year: 1961

Why I like this song:

R.I.P. Ben E King.

I recall hearing this song at a young age and it suck with me ever since. Which is indeed a testament to it's staying power. 
One could put this down to the message of togetherness in facing adversity and Ben E King's conviction. But personally, the best part of the song is the instrumental portion in the middle of the song: the strings swell and yet the bass is still holding it's ground. That part has always stood out for me and conveys a message of tenacity through troubled times.

I don't know if that was the intention but that's what I got out of it.

Needless to say, this song has got me through some troubled times and will no doubt continue to do so in the future. And I can only wonder how many people have come up to King over the years and told him how much that song helped them when things were grim.

The Asian Connection: Ride on Shooting Star

Original video located here. Accessed 4th May 2015

Song title: Ride on Shooting Star

Artist: The Pillows

Year: 2000

Why I like this song:

Having spent my teens listening to a lot of nineties alternative rock, this song comes across as a nature fit. And despite a language barrier, it rocks just fine to me

This Song Rocks: Do You Remember

Original video located here. Accessed 4th May 2015

Song title: Do You Remember

Artist: Jarryd James

Year: 2015

Why I like this song:

Compelling in it's sense of doom

Choon of the Month: Heaven Sent

Original video located here. Accessed 27th April 2015

Song title: Heaven Sent

Artist: Best Coast

Year: 2015

Why I like this song:

As I'm limping further and further into my thirties, it becomes clear that my tastes of music have evolved to a point where what I knew is now looking obsolete, what is trending at the moment is looking alien and I need to step aside for someone younger. Such is the inevitability of aging. 

But sometimes a song come along and says: "You're not done yet!" And that's what I get from this song. Yes it may be a resurrection of nineties guitar pop and yes it's aimed at a teenaged crowd but it still has enough punch to make anyone, no matter their age, sit up and take notice. 

Yes my time may be disappearing over the horizon but there is still a chance to not go quietly. 
And it is one worth seizing. 

The Asian Connection: Idol Talk

Original video located here. Accessed 12th August 2016

Song title: Idol Talk

Artist: Akino Arai

Year: 1994

Why I like this song:

Ah, Macross. One of my favourite anime IPs. Where fighter jets, giant robots and killer music are merged together to deliver the goods.
And to me, Macross Plus is the best of the lot.

So yeah before there was Hatsune Miku, there was Sharon Apple. And as Macross Plus was based around a virtual idol, it is expected that we have a plethora of pop songs. And this pretty much a pastiche of the pop songs of the time.
Clearly someone had been listening to their Madonna records...

This Song Rocks: Lean On

Original video located here. Accessed 3rd April 2015

Song title: Lean On

Artist: Major Lazer and DJ Snake with MO

Year: 2015

Why I like this song:

I will admit that I am disillusioned with a lot of modern electronic dance music: Too much screeching and it all seems a race to see who can be the loudest. This however, is an exception.
It may have the bombast of modern dance music but it seems more seductive. Like it wants to get you onto the dance floor instead of shouting demands to you do so.
See? Subtly works.