SHUGO TOKUMARU - RUM HEE

This song has been playing on my iPod a lot lately. It cheers me up :)

MEDA - KAMI LASKAR PELANGI

My good friend Meda from high school has just released a single called "Kami Laskar Pelangi" which is part of the soundtrack to the upcoming Laskar Pelangi television series. It's a beautiful song, written by Andrea Hirata, the author of the tetralogy Laskar Pelangi, Sang Pemimpi, Edensor and Maryamah Karpov.

Check out Meda's facebook page here to get all her updates and you must listen to the song below :)

AMAL'S TOP 5

It's funny when you see your own child and realize just how much he's been influenced by his parents. Amal's musical taste is not the same as your average kid (or at least most of the kids in his class). I know this for a fact because he says he doesn't talk about "his kind of music" with his friends; he says "they don't listen to that kind of music Mom!".
Today as we were having lunch, he suddenly asked me "Do you know who my top 5 best singer/groups are?".
So to keep this memory and share it with him in a couple of years, here were his answers to Amal's Top 5 Singer/Groups:


1. THE BEATLES (of course!) - this is a 3 generation thing, from my dad, to Amal's dad, then down to Amal so this is no surprise
His favorite song: I Am The Walrus




2. PHOENIX - he knows most of the songs from the album "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" by heart!
His favorite song: Lisztomania




3. STONE ROSES - this came as a surprise! What the?? Hahahaha... this is definitely his dad's influence cause I never listen to Stone Roses. I have nothing against them, but I just don't have their music on my iPod :)
**Update: apparently, Amal first really liked the song "Ten Story Love Song" but ever since he listened to "Love Spreads", that one's become his favorite.
His favorite song: Love Spreads




4. SEAN LENNON - Beatles influence of course, but we do listen to a lot of Sean Lennon. And, recently because he likes Sean Lennon, he's become obsessed with watching "Monster in Paris" starring none other than... Sean Lennon!
**Update: at first, Sean Lennon was first introduced as John Lennon's son because Amal had already been introduced to The Beatles, but little by little he came to like the whole "Friendly Fires" album.
His favorite song: Dead Meat




5. JONSI - ever since I saw "We Bought A Zoo", I can't stop listening to Jonsi, so it stuck with Amal and now he's the one who asks to listen to it in the car :)
His favorite song: Boy Lilikoi



**All updates based on stories from Amal's dad :)

VANESSA PARADIS & M - LA SEINE

I think Vanessa Paradis has such an angelic voice, and she looks like she's still in her 20's... how does she do that? This is the french version of the title song in "Monster in Paris", but honestly the video is so worth watching...

LYKKE LI - I FOLLOW RIVERS

This song has been in my head during my whole trip to Brussels and Paris. Actually, the version I hear is this one, but I thought this acoustic version was absolutely fantastic. Enjoy!

NINA SIMONE - HERE COMES THE SUN

My new favorite song:

Amal has been asking me to listen to The Beatles' Here Comes The Sun almost every day, but I stumbled upon this last night and I think it's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard :)

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - COSMIC LOVE

Florence has such a beautiful voice. I had heard about Florence and The Machine before but it's only last weekend that I really heard the entire album, coming back from Cipanas and absolutely adored it :) This song is my favorite from the album...

There's something about women singers who have strong voices. I feel they give strength to other women listening. Or is it just me? I know that when I'm down and I listen to Tori Amos, Kate Bush or Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeah, they lift me up.

BON IVER - HOLOCENE

I am deeply in love with this song and this video :)

INTROSPECTION

I'm sure you all know this song. I just thought since this is the month of Ramadhan - month of giving, of introspection - this song is appropriate, just cause it does talk about what's happening in the world and that everyone has the possibility to make the world a better place. People tend to think that making change needs lots of money or time or huge effort, but honestly, just donating once in a while, caring about someone less fortunate than you, that's already a lot :)

BETTER TOGETHER

Today, I fell in love with this song again...

SESAME STREET IS COOL

I remember watching Sesame Street from when I was still around 7-9 years old living in the States. And I can't believe that now my son is watching it too! It's unbelievable how this show has progressed... and they're so cool that they have guests like Feist, who is singing an excellent song here! I love her voice and I love this song... Enjoy!

If you have an iTunes account, I highly recommend that you download the Sesame Street podcasts. It's free! All you have to do is click here. The podcasts are either about a new word for your child to learn or about one of the letters in the alphabet. Very entertaining and educative at the same time :)

MIXXIES #3

ALBUM VAKANSI By WSATCC

I've wanted to buy this album for quite some time now, but I just hadn't had the chance to go to a music store till last weekend. I don't know how to express my excitement as I listened to each tune but honestly, White Shoes and The Couples Company is one of the best groups I know (national and international). They always come through with amazing music, one more original than the next and they seem to me as very humble and close to their roots (friends and family) :)

Below is a music clip of one of their songs on the album:

And here's a video of them explaining the process of the making of this album:

If you'd like to hear their latest album, you can go here for a preview :) That link goes to their website where you can find the other albums they've made. Trust me, if you haven't heard their music, go straight to a record store (like Aksara) and buy their album :)

3 WOMEN, 3 MUSIC GENRES

Thanks to The Cool Hunter website, I found these 3 music videos which are amazing, mind blowing.

Adele has an incredible voice. Listen to the song with your eyes closed and you'll realize how powerful her bluesy, gospel voice is.

Margo is a force of nature - a mix between Prince and Cindy Lauper. She has rockstar style and girl power written all over her.

Steed Lord is a musical performance art project from Iceland. The song is quite catchy but it's the music video that is out of this world unique, pure creativity.

Check them out!

STEED LORD - 123 IF YOU WANT ME from STEED LORD on Vimeo.

FLEET FOXES - HELPLESSNESS BLUES

Love love love this new song by Fleet Foxes... Enjoy!




Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues by subpop

PS: If you have difficulties viewing this video, just refresh your page and be patient :)

TREES AND BIRDS

I love this animation video... Check it out!

AKU CINTA J.A.K.A.R.T.A

I have to say I did miss Jakarta when I was in Kuala Lumpur, and I thought about this song :)

MIXXIES #2

THE BEATLES ON ITUNES

To be perfectly honest, I didn't even know that they weren't on iTunes :) I love this photo of them. I think this is the perfect photo for the launching of The Beatles on iTunes. Who didn't grow up listening to them? I know my dad had the John Lennon hair and the Ringo Starr mustache back in the days...hehehe...

MIXXIES #1

This is the first of many mixxies that I'll post on this blog. Mixxies are a mix of songs that I like and want to share with you in case you feel like listening to some new songs :)

P.S: I can't seem to align center this post so if anyone knows how to do this, please enlighten me...hehehe...