Now here's another unique and fresh piece from this great modern talent, set in a low mood with occasional bursts to uplift that mood, blended with some soul and jazz into it.
This is a bit of minimalist—something Blake is known for. If you will take a look at the live set-up with his band of 3, it consists of Blake's piano and vocals; then someone's drum pads with cymbals; then another's bass pedals (an instrument I knew because of them) plus other electronic gadgets and even a guitar in other performances.
Please bear with me. This list runs for almost 7 months! I missed updating this 101 songs because—guess what—I'm busy doing what has to be done this 4th year. I told it on my past post.
But speaking of school...We're already down to the top 20 songs of my third year. These songs are pieces and parts of my past school year. These songs were the songs I got to listen to most of the time.
For this part, we have a new band to be featured—a distinctive band in the Philippines named Up Dharma Down. Also expect some Linkin Park, M83, FTP, and James Blake.
Don't know them yet? Know them here.
20."Can you feel the rush rush?"
Davenport|Never The Strangers
At 20 we have a synth-filled, dramatic song of Never The Strangers. I don't really know why this is entitled "Davenport". It is either a place or the type of sofa.
But what I liked in this track is that it speaks of going away and being away, and it is spoken thoroughly.
19."Iindak na lamang ba sa tibok ng puso mo/At aasahan ko/Hindi mo lamang aapakan ang aking mga paa"
Indak|Up Dharma Down
I really like Up Dharma Down. I like their sound and the sweet vocals of Armi Millare, as well as the lyrics that are poetic and impressive.
This one, written in Filipino, amazes me. The piano notes, and that electronically produced beat before the refrain, and those remarkable lyrics. Wow!
For your information, the song tells me of dance, first of all. Then, it speaks of a person's confusion on who to dance with, on who will she choose.
It tells me that this person isn't sure of what her decision will be, but she'll choose. And she'll dance, while someone is watching...While someone is sad.
Since it's "Indak", it'll be nice to be played at prom.
Actually, there's an album version of this song, but the one featured here is the first one I've heard, and I like it better.
18."Nalilito na ako hindi na dapat gan'to"
Sana|Up Dharma Down
Yes. It's UDD again. It's another Filipino song worth hearing.
From the beating intro to the video game-inspired music video, it's awesome. Here, we get to hear Armi's magnificent vocals in a more dynamic level. Also, we hear those heartfelt lines of wishes, somehow emptying to zero.
17."Just waiting! Just waiting!"
Steve Mcqueen|M83
We have another M83 song here, which still comes from their recent album. The first seconds are like an entrance to a story-book world, or a different dimension, like Narnia. Then, synths and beats will burst like whirling matter.
It is a combination of the synthetic and the ambient. Of something from synthpop and something from house music and something from rock.
16."Sana'y nagtanong ka lang kung 'di mo lang alam"
Oo|Up Dharma Down
Back to UDD.
This expressive song focuses on a person's frustration over another and his/her interest. This speaks of a hopeless feeling, or a regret over liking someone. But what I like here is that the lyrics is so clear and direct.
It's another dimension of UDD that is heard here, away from electronica and more of jazz. It's so brilliantly orchestrated.
15."I tie my hands up to a chair so I don’t fall that way"
Helena Beat|Foster The People
FTP impresses us once again with their upbeat, keyboard-filled sounds, together with lyrics with deeper meanings.
"Helena Beat" is a party-perfect song. It tells us of a fall in humans, a fall they don't care about.
The beats that are heard as the song opens are what I think is the 'Helena Beat". It's an "ear-opener" for me.
14."Waiting for the end to come/Wishing I had strength to stand"
Waiting For The End|Linkin Park
I felt this song all throughout, because—really—I waited for the end.
I waited for the end of the school year, the end of every tasks, the end of every hardships, the end of every sorrow.
And so this song hums with me.
13."Is this the way I've always been?"
The Reeling|Passion Pit
The banging and dancing and running of every note and beat makes this Passion Pit single great. Another thing to consider is the additional choir sound care of PS22 Chorus.
Thanks to 99.5 before it became Play FM, I heard this electro-pop piece.
12."Like a waterfall in slow motion"
Limit To Your Love|James Blake
Let's now slow it down.
I found this out from Live From Abbey Road. It was the first time that I heard something classical fused with something modern. The first time I heard a classical piano contained with drum-pad beats, push-button effects, and sounds coming from a Prophet synthesizer that's better than an Autotune.
But also, the emotions and colors that are conveyed in this track makes it good to hear. The lines travel through your consciousness, and somehow you're already in the vibe of the music.
11."It doesn't even matter"
In The End|Linkin Park
LP's songs are really heartfelt and emotion-filled, aside from being distinctively rock.
This one is something that I felt anytime. Doing everything that you could, but having its value lost in the end. Having trust, then losing it when it's all over, even when it's not all over yet.
Do they sound good for you? Let's add one more.
Bonus track:"All of my life/In every season/You are still God"
Desert Song|Hillsong
Of course, contemporary Christian music isn't ignored by this blogger. This is my pick because it fits right into what I've gone through the past school year.
Here I was, barren, dry, baffled...But here's my God, who was—and still is—with me. He has a plan. He knows what's best for me—all of us. So there's still a reason to live...and to depend on God each day.
Get ready for the last 10 songs very soon! In case you've missed the songs before these, you may start here. Thank you so much for hanging out!
There are many songs to listen, many artists to appreciate, many genres to discover. Music revolved around my third year, and still revolves around me. That's why I've come up with a list as long as this.
So let's continue the "chart". There's both homegrown and foreign. Rap and alternative rock. But still, there's electronica.
I now let you listen and discover, in case you might find new songs here.
60."Hindi ko alam kung anong tumama sa 'kin" ("I didn't know what hit me")
Amats|Rico Blanco
I used to know Rico Blanco before as the frontman of one of Philippines' famous bands, Rivermaya.
Now that he has gone solo, I find him as one of the good-sounding guys in the music industry today. He recently went to electro with a festive flavor, which seems unusual for a man who usually plays guitar or whatsovever, just not any electronic stuff. It did surprise me that he turned out that way.
By the way, if you're confused if what "amats" means (as used in the song), it's a slang which describes someone who has been struck—mostly in a very deep degree—by a person. Meaning, deeply attracted to a particular person. It could also be defined as "got crazy".
Since I have heard the song and seen it's music video for a long time during third year, I found it nice to put it in here.
We cannot disagree that sometimes we're "struck" differently into others, and we felt weird about it.
59."When I need a healing, I just look up the the ceiling. I see the sun coming down I know its all better now"
I Cry|Flo Rida
This one's remarkable. It has to be put on the list.
Right from the rapped words, it's relative to this person who had gone through all that mixed events. I may not really cry at those times, but inside I did. You get what I mean?
Even just a little, inside I grieved and somehow became fed up being "caught in the middle".
But then I didn't give up on the thought that things will get better, that another morning will come up.
All throughout the song I can nod and jump to the music.
Note: 1 cussword, lest you may be alarmed
58."Hanggat ako’y humihinga. Sugod lang laban pa" (As long as I'm breathing. Just rush forward and fight")
Sige Lang|Quest
Good thing there are positive songs. That music to uplift you.
This one can greet you a good morning, as well as remind you of the good things life can bring. So just go on. Do things right. Keep on climbing. Forget the past but keep in mind its lessons. Keep moving.
We have God with us! He can carry you up in your trouble. He can help a lot! He will.
57."I climbed the highest mountains.I swum the coldest seas"
My Inner Ninja|Classified
Another frequently-played song on the radio. Another strong song. Another nice rap.
"My Inner Ninja" tells me every time of how I can be like that person in the song. A determined person. A learned and learning person. A person who undergoes challenging trails and uneasy adventures. A person who survives, and can survive all that.
And I'm happy to inculcate that "inner ninja". May his power be used and unleashed soon.
56."Because in the daylight anywhere feels like home"
Daylight|Matt and Kim
This one's radiantly engaging. A notable beginning. Harmonic voices. Blending beats.
Daylight. Like daybreak, or dawn. Shining bright on us cheerfully, whether we're in the same or opposite mood of it.
55."I've got a feeling we will never get closer than this"
Closer Than This|St. Lucia
It amazed me from the first time I've heard it from the radio in a cellphone.
It's colorful, rhythmic, and beautiful.
And we have another truth here. We don't expect to be close, or closer, to people we don't much expect we'll get so close as if we're only an inch away from them.
54."I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant. But nothing...can take away these blues"
Nothing Compares 2 U|Capital Cities
It's actually a cover of a song entitled "Nothing Compares 2U". But this sounds better.
It has this 80s flair like that of Kool and The Gang or El Debarge. This one is really wonderfully made. Another song I can dance to, again like Kool and The Gang or The Whispers.
53."The night city grows. Look as the horizon glow"
Midnight City|M83
I first heard this when I was in second year on the radio of my cellphone. Right from the start, it caught my ears which sooner liked the sounds of keyboards and synthesizers more. This was the first song that helped me to be interested at the band. At third year, it was almost heavily played at the time I began listening to Jam 88.3 in the evening.
A lead single from their album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, Midnight City is inspired by "Downtown Los Angeles" at night. I liken the vocals to one of Alan Parson's Project. But it was nice of them to adorn a distinct sound in the finale. No spoiling. Play and listen. It still sounds like the 80s—almost.
52."Look I found her, redcoat"
CMYK|James Blake
I found another distinct sound in James Blake. We'll call it post-dubstep, which is frequently mixed with soul(which will appear in upcoming lists).
The use of words from other songs, and the progressive beats spurted out fits James Blake's uniqueness. I like the way "90's R&B" is composed into one collage on this track.
The voice of James Blake here is processed by a vocoder, a sound-making device, for your information.
Note: One cussword.
51."You've got heart and you're going your own way"
L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.|Noah and The Whale
A song that gives a pat on my back, especially when I'm getting through hard times!
First heard on Live From Abbey Road, one of my favorite shows as of now.
But that's right. Life goes on. And I said it to myself often at those times.
More to come on the following parts. For the next part, there'll be Linkin' Park, Foster The People, Fun., Gloc 9, and Two Door Cinema Club.
I hope you like these 10 songs I've featured today. I hope you have found new songs to add to your playlist. In case you're finding the previous parts, just look at the Blog Archive. Thanks for reading and listening!
