Arabesque Etoile

Starry Night

Arabesque Etoile by Yousuke Yasui

Recommended by Jessica

"This is a piece by Yousuke Yasui, who composes electronic scores with a retro vibe for video games as well as some original pieces. I really like Yasui's music and enjoy this song for its bouncy beat and catchiness."

First of all, thanks for introducing me to another video game composer. I need wordless music for my attempts at studying, and optimistic pieces like this are the best at keeping me focused and driven.

Yasui says he aspires to write music that is "playful and creative" and I would say he succeeds (x).

A lot of what Yasui does is not creating his own melodies - thought he does that as well - but rather remixing the original game soundtracks, often for the next game in a series that has been on-going for years.

This piece, which pays homage to Hong Kong etoile from the game "Knucke Heads," Yasui evokes the retro or old school gaming style of music and creates something that feels familiar yet modern.

About this "remixing" facet of his work, Yasui says:

No matter how good, a remix is never better than the original. So I changed the feel entirely in order to create something that was good in a different way. I see it as an honor to be connected to the music that I respect. (source)

I really like that quote.

There's a great deal of humility shown in that deference shown to the original, yet there's still a sense of determination and pride in the idea of making something that's "good in a different way." You've got to find a balance between doing your own thing without coming across like you're trying to fix something that isn't broken.

Overview:

Genre:
Electronic

Verdict:
pretty cool, also worth noting - étoile is French for "star." arabesque is a ballet move...but more relevant to this track, an arabesque is "a form of artistic decoration consisting of surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils or plain lines" (x)
As such, a star arabesque (arabesque etoile, if you will) would look something like this:

pretty accurate, right?

Sort It Out Sharon

God, Sharon

Sort It Out Sharon ft. Wiley by Dusky

Recommended by Tim

Dusky is a London-based electronic music duo (x).

Wiley, a 37-year-old artist from Trinidad and Tobago, brings years of experience to the verses, which he raps at lightning speed. The "godfather of grime" delivers that perfect combo of "industrial techno, grime and '93 rave vibes" (x).

It's an uptempo, vocal-focused track that layers accented, rapid-fire rapping over sharp percussion over a barely-there electronic drone. There's a sense of urgency that you can never escape.

Get it together.

Overview:

Genre:
Techno / Synth Pop

Favorite Lyrics:
If there's a doubt in your mind,
better erase that.

Verdict:
"warehouse belter" (x)

Do You Wanna Build a Wall?

Debbie Just Hit It

Do You Wanna Build a Wall? (a Frozen parody)

Recommended by Sara

"Is your blog political?"

No, it's not. I mean not really. But sure, I'll give your song a listen.

This is basically the same thing as this guy's videos, where he edits clips to make the current POTUS, Obama, sing things like Call Me Maybe, Sexy and I Know It, or even The Pokemon Theme Song.

The difference is, of course, that this dub of Donald Trump actually changes the words of Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? Whereas, in barackdubs, he is manipulated just to sing the exact lyrics of whatever sing he's supposed to be "singing."

But, whatever. Everyone knows about Trump's plan to build a wall, and this silly little video isn't the worst thing through which Donald's name has been dragged.

**REGISTER TO VOTE**

If you live in Georgia, you can do it here.

Overview:

Genre:
Parody

Verdict:
all in good fun, probably

My Understandings

I Remember That Book

My Understandings by Of Mice & Men

From the band's second studio album, The Flood, My Understandings is kind of a roller coaster, but it maintains a cohesiveness despite its ups and downs.

The intro is a soothing and repetitive two-note pattern that blooms slowly into a multi-layered amalgamation of sounds. Even if you focus on the original two notes, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when they fade out of the mess of guitar and bass and background vocals. One minute the pattern is there, and the next it's gone.

When the main vocal line enters, the background noise gives way completely, and there's no accompaniment except some unobtrusive strumming.

The next section includes everything at once - drums and guitars and passionate singing and a huge increase in energy.

And then suddenly we're back to distant echoes and a sense of peace. Resolution maybe.

The construction of this song is interesting to me because it's basically made up of four sections: Intro - Chill Section - Intense Section - Outro. The intro and outro parallel each other, forming bookends around the meat of the track. The relaxed section with a cappella vibes introduces every lyric in the whole song, and the whole thing is repeated verbatim during the second part, just louder.

It took me a couple to listens to realize that the lyrics were repeated because they just sound so different the second time around. It's pretty cool.

Overview:

Genre:
Metalcore

Favorite Lyrics:
I don't mind if you're overrated.

Verdict:
Softer than I expected from a band with the word "metal" in the primary genre

This Town

Love Ya, Buddie

This Town by Niall Horan

Yes, THAT Niall Horan. As in, 1/5 and later 1/4 of One Direction.

This precious little number picks up not too far from where the boy band left off, both in sound and content. Worlds away from where they started with What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction's fifth album was mellow and nostalgic and intimate.

The similarity makes sense, as he collaborated with some of the same minds as 1D, including Jamie Scott who wrote on some of the softest (in a good way) songs on Made in the A.M. (x).

But let's be fair to this new solo artist and talk about him.

This Town is a folksy ballad that puts the spotlight directly on Niall Horan. He sings, gentle and sweet, and accompanies himself on the acoustic guitar. It's lovely and casual, and it reminds me a bit of Ed Sheeran in the sincerity of the delivery.

(Even the video above is reminiscent of the music video for Little Things, a track written by Ed Sheeran for One Direction's second album. That black and white aesthetic, you know.)

The story is a melancholy little thing about, perhaps, a childhood sweetheart. It's full of love for this person, for this old town, for old times...and despite the sadness, and the assertion that it's wrong that I can't move on, it still leaves you with a warm feeling inside.

Keep a lookout for Horan's debut album as a solo artist, which he told Ryan Seacrest will be out sometime in 2017 (x). Until then, enjoy this sneak peak :)))

Overview:

Genre:
Folk Pop

Favorite Lyrics:
You still make me nervous when you walk in the room.
Them butterflies, they come alive when I'm next to you.

Verdict:
Let's face it - there's nothing this kid could release that I wouldn't fall in love with. That said, this track is actually the sweetest thing.

Running Errands with My Mom

Good Times

Running Errands with My Mom by Jeremy Shada, Shauna Case, & Annie Sertich

Recommended by Bert

You may recognize Jeremy Shada as the voice of Finn from Adventure Time, but this song is from a different Cartoon Network show: Incredible Crew.

I don't really know what to say - I mean, this little creation is very lighthearted and entertaining and definitely doesn't need any kind of in-depth analysis. Thought I'd share it anyway.

Reminds me of that Mark Ronson (ft. Bruno Mars) parody of Uptown Funk.

(Suburban Funk)

Overview:

Genre:
Uh...rap?

Favorite Lyrics:
Yo, you mad trippin' Linda;
Your shoes don't match your purse!

Verdict:
pretty funny

Life: The Biggest Troll

Happy Atlanta Night

Life: The Biggest Troll by Childish Gambino

(Not an official video, obviously - music starts at like 0:23)

Life: The Biggest Troll is a track from Childish Gambino's Grammy-nominated album, Because the Internet (2013) (x). The title for the album comes from a line in this song: Because the Internet, mistakes are forever.

Explaining the album title, Donald Glover said:

Because the internet I'm here, because of the internet we're all here. It's the language of earth. Everyone keeps saying by this or that year, Mandarin or Spanish will be the most dominant language, but the internet is already a language we are all connected to; even my dad can understand the meme format. But the thing is, there are no rules, which is also the awesome thing. (source)

I appreciate this insight and agree with it.

Childish Gambino has no chill with the Internet theme, even using an animated .GIF as the cover of his album. The physical version uses lenticular printing (that thing where the image changes when you look it from a different angle) to mimic the effect (x).

Life: The Biggest Troll takes a look at Internet culture with the same level of depth.

Musically, the track is easy to listen to. Childish Gambino raps free-flowing lines with a mellow voice. The background noise sounds like something Tame Impala would put out.

Lyrically, the track is - as CMJ calls it - "self-awarely annoying."

But, hey, I don't think it's possible to write about the Internet without accruing some second-hand embarrassment.

In addition to mentioning serious topics like gun control and the racist asshole hacker Andrew Aurnheimer, the track also references Rick Rolling and quotes Mean Girls. But, hey, that's the Internet for you.

Overview:

Genre:
Hip Hop / Rap

Favorite Lyrics:
Funny, the day you're born,
that's really your death sentence.

Verdict:
clever, very 2013