Music Obsessions [November 2017]

Its November!!! Its kind of hard to really acknowledge how fast 2017 has gone by. Perhaps its being busy with all the projects and all the life stuff that just keeps bombarding us. The past month was one that needed a lot of music to get through. Sure, we had vacation so music for the road but also a lot of big decisions and stressful times and frustrating bits. We made it through and I can’t say that music wasn’t a big part of it since its always there for me. The Voice Season 13 finished up their blind auditions and the battles which took a lot of my time as well so maybe we will see some influence here. It always kicks up my desire to sing all the time so I went back to check on some 90s Hong Kong pop since that is how I got into the whole loving to sing.

Let’s check it out!

Live Goes On – Grasshopper 草蜢

Yesterday’s Song – Hunter Hayes

Evolution of Boy Bands – Kurt Hugo Schneider ft Sam Tsui & Michael Constantino

Freeze Time – Jonathan Roy x Deepend

誰明浪子心 (Who Understands a Drifter’s Heart) – Dave Wong

A nice mix of some upbeat music and some Hong Kong pop from old and new. I just realized as I was compiling this that I was listening to a lot of songs on repeat so it was pretty  hard to narrow it all down. Here are the ones that has been playing the most on repeat. There’s not really much to say. The other stuff on my Youtube playlist are some of The Voice battles.

Happy Sunday!
What have you been listening to?

Music Obsessions [April 2017]

It’s April everyone! I can’t actually believe it! Can you? These Music Obsessions thing swing by so fast and for possibly the first time this year, I feel like I actually have a bit of music going on right now. Maybe it is because I started watching this season of The Voice and its been a pretty cool experience. There are some nice talent there. I can only hope The Voice won’t disappoint me like American Idol did many many years ago when I decided to just stop.

Enough of this rambling! Let’s check it out!

Make Me Like You – Gwen Stefani

Back to Me – KSHMR & Crossnaders ft. Micky Blue

Beauty and the Beast (Minor Key version) – Chase Holfelder & KHS cover

How Does A Moment Last Forever – Celine Dion

 And for The Voice Season 12 performances I’ve enjoyed…

The Voice 2017 Battle – Johnny Hayes vs. Julien Martinez “Hard to Handle”

The Voice 2017 Battle – Jozy Bernadette vs. Troy Ramey “Angel Eyes”

There might be a few more but I’ll end it here. I think its enough music for today! 🙂
Hope you enjoyed it!

What have you been listening to lately?

Music Obsessions [April 2016]

Can you believe a month has gone by already? I always look forward to the monthly Music Obsessions! There’s always something new or old to listen to.

I have to say that this month might not be so adventurous for all of you unless you like foreign music. After that last karaoke session with my best friends, I’ve found myself falling back in love with listening to some Taiwan/Hong Kong music.  There were still some English music that I just haven’t been able to get out of my mind.  This month’s Music Obsessions will be rather a mish-mash of selections!

Also, I think this is a fixed thing now.  First Sunday of every month will be dedicated to Music Obsessions segment.  It will be a post with 5 to 6 videos (like how the last few months have been done). No more funky titles but rather just monthly issues. What do you think?

Work-Rihanna ft Drake (cover by Citizen Shade & Kurt Hugo Schneider)

I’m not much of a Rihanna fan but that’s besides the point.  I HATE the original of this song but the cover is a completely different story. Citizen Shade have amazing vocalists that just make it so much better.  In any case, I love listening to this so much!

Tao Tai Lang (淘汰郎) -Show Lo

I’m on a high after The Mermaid and it made me want to revisit Show Lo’s music.  If I could find his Taiwan TV dramas, I’d be doing that also but then, all of those are in another drive and I don’t know where I put it. This song is one I used to like and mostly because I enjoy watching the whole dancing bit. He’s know for his dancing in Taiwan, among his many talents. The song title in literal translation is like, Eliminated Guy. Something like that…

Ghostbuster (Original Mix) – CastNowski x WZRD

I’m a huge fan of house music.  Its my go-to, especially after a hard day of work or like late Friday night.  Its great for background writing music.  CastNowski is a fellow Quebecer and he followed me on Twitter and shared this link with me for this track and let me tell you, its pretty awesome! I love the beat drop at 1:12

**I can’t help but sidetrack to talk about how I’m really useless at social media and despite my best efforts to try to make use of my Twitter account…its really not doing much except for retweet all those lovely posts my awesome blogging buddies post up on their sites. I love doing that because they are awesome writers.  On that note, maybe thats what I have to do..just reach out 😉 **

Let’s continue, shall we?

你把我灌醉 (Intoxicated) – G.E.M.

One of the many discoveries from karaoke with my best friend is G.E.M.  While I’ve heard of this singer before, I’ve never paid much attention to them.  Apparently, I was wrong because she has style and talent. Its pretty amazing. Her voice has just incredible texture and range. This is a remake of a popular song back in 1990s (might be 80s, I can’t remember). I love it so much!

The next (and last) two selections are also ones I discovered when I was at karaoke because my best friend is much more updated on the world of Taiwan/Chinese music.

想你的夜 (未眠版) Miss You Tonight -關喆 Grady

如果沒有你 – 莫文蔚 Karen Mok

I know its a lot of Chinese music this time but they are melodically really nice.  I like them a lot. There is always an electronic music choice just because its a nice mood booster and well, cover and whatnot because those appear on my list.  A little change from the normal but its a good change, right?

Happy Sunday, my lovelies! Hope you enjoy!
What music have you been replaying lately?

Music Obsessions: Valentine’s Day Special!

Happy Sunday, my lovelies!

We’re almost in the full swing of Valentine’s Day over here! I know its hard to accept it since tonight is all about Superbowl (if that’s your thing).  Well, we will be doing that while celebrating Chinese New Year’s Eve! Regardless, its pretty much in full swing this week.  I always try to keep it a little not all about romance, hence the beer chicken on Friday and some Oscar Best Picture reviews (if I manage to get it all watched).

However, romance is a big part in songs nowadays so let’s take a look at few.

Don’t Mess With My Girl – Jon McLaughlin

Stand By You/Stand By Me (Mashup) – Sam Tsui & Casey Breves

Save My Soul – Corey Gray

One Call Away – Charlie Puth (Cover by Mitchell Rose & Kurt Hugo Schneider)

Every Breath You Take (Deep Chills Remix) – The Police

Mashups, covers, remixes and originals: I think I got it all covered this time around! We’re back to regular Music Obsessions next month with some songs I’ve been obsessing over right now! I don’t see them leaving my mind or my playlist any time soon!

Hope you enjoyed! 

Music Obsessions: Christmas Special 2015

Christmas music floods our stores and radios and even our homes.  I know it does.  If I went to my in-laws right now, 24/7 (I exaggerate, maybe like 18/7) Christmas music.  That’s how much they love Christmas.  We love it equally, minus the hardcore music playing. Still, Youtube always has some nice covers and mash-ups and here are a few that I’ve liked a lot in the last few weeks 🙂

Joy to the World-Pentatonix

All I Want For Christmas (in minor key)-Kurt Hugo Schneider ft. Chase Holfelder

This one’s a little different.  My husband isn’t a fan but I think it has a nice eerie twist to it.  It could be that I just saw Krampus and heard it that night.  It had a good atmosphere going on.

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Straight No Chaser

 The More You Give (The More You’ll Have) – Michael Buble

Mary Did You Know? – Peter Hollens

What do you think of these song? Its quite a bit of change with a lot of a cappella covers.  I always like to add in Michael Buble.  Its been a while since I’ve heard his smooth voice.  As for Kurt Hugo Schneider’s covers, he’s done two of these minor key ones and they are a little weird at first but it does grow on me.  A very unique take on the music.

That’s it for Music Obsessions. I’m planning to keep them with 5 song selections from now on.  Its a reasonable amount and won’t be overburdening 😉

What Christmas songs do you like to listen to? 

Music Obsessions!

Its been a while (about 2 months) since I’ve done a Music Obsessions segments!

I just haven’t had much time to go about YouTube other than the random gaming video or whatnot.   Music just hasn’t been all that great also I’ve kind of take a little break.  But its time to do one of these.  After all, NaNoWriMo is among us now and music is my escape or wait, my passage into that world of inspiration.

Plus, I need some easy posts for fillers…let’s just keep this at least partially honest 😉

Songs are repeat in my Youtube playlist right now! Its as always a mixed bag.

Break Up In a Small Town – Sam Hunt

I really like Sam Hunt.  Take Your Time is a beautiful song.  And his style and songs are really great.  This one is very good also. Maybe not as good as his first hit but I just love his voice 🙂

Sing – Pentatonix

Pentatonix is pretty much amazing. They started out as an a capella singing group.  This is their original song and I believe they just released their original album along with having make a documentary on their journey to where they are now.  Its on Netflix in Canada.  I’m not sure if I’ll watch it but I do love their work.

Intoxicated (Original Radio Edit)-Martin Solveig & GTA 

I found this while skimming through the radio station for some Top 40 music for the wedding ceremony. I didn’t end up using this, I think but its got a sick beat.  I love it so much!

No One’s Here to Sleep – Naughty Boy feat. Dan Smith Bastille

All I have to say: How to Get Away with Murder! That’s where I heard this. This song matched with whatever scene it matched with was so great.  This show is something different. The cast is fantastic and the premise had captivated when it started. I just wonder how long this can keep going.  Anyways, captivating song 🙂

Konsey – J.Perry feat. TonyMix

This is my fave Zumba song.  Like, we have this routine that is super high energy.  Its my favorite that I actually know it really well, so I can push really hard when this plays.  Now its on my Youtube playlist and I play it when I need to bring up the energy level! Its pure awesomeness! 🙂

 Hey Jude (in Minor Key) – Tyler Ward & Kurt Hugo Schneider

 Beatles fan anyone? I am! But I’m equally a fan of Tyler Ward and KHS.  They did a fun little cover while singing this song in the minor key. I really like it in the weirdest way. Its a good different. Not sure it’ll work for everyone though. Do you like it?

That’s it for this month’s Music Obsessions!
I’ll be back next month with the Christmas special.
Stay awesome! 🙂

This Week’s Obsessions: Music, TV, Videos! :)

Life has been boring and calm.  Thats a good thing in my book.  No craziness sounds awesome!

Aside from having lots of time on my hands (who am I kidding!) and well, mostly due to procrastinating and being lazy, I did manage to take all that time and relax when I’m not watching horror flicks ;). I have nothing to report about my life: no day trips, no events, no hangout with friends.  A calm weekend ahead of me.  I enjoy those once in a while.

Aside from movies, Music, TV and Youtube vids really get me through these calm weeks.

On the front of TV, I finally finished up Pretty Little Liars.  Now its to stream Season 4, but I think I’m taking a break since I haven’t even started the new fall season AT ALL! If its anything Pretty Little Liars introduced me to, it was a bunch of hot/sexy/cute actors. Drew Van Acker is totally gorgeous and Keegan Allen has this awesome body just to name two…

 

Plus, they have this amazing chemistry going on in the scenes.  Plus, I just heard that Tyler Blackburn, playing one of my fave characters, exited the show to have his own spinoff series called Ravenwood.  I’m pretty stoked about that.  So lots to catch up on still, but a break would be good.

I took the opportunity to start up with New Girl.  Jess and her roommates just make me laugh out loud!

Then, on Thursday, I started watching Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., that show is pretty awesome!

Next up on my list will probably be Vampire Diaries.  I’m missing that crew a whole lot! Especially Ian Somerhalder as Damon 🙂 Then, there’s a whole bunch of new and old series to watch.  Its where decisions have to make as to which I’ll follow weekly and which will be in binge watching style.

Moving on…lets get on to music! Since thats how this actually started, right?

Do you like Jason Mraz? I know I do A WHOLE LOT! Here he does a mashup with a bunch of Youtube artists and Hunter Hayes to a song called Everyone’s Got Somebody But Me.  This video is directed by Kurt Hugo Schneider and I’ve mentioned on many accounts how much I love his creativity! This song is on repeat right now! It may be kind of a sad message but they make it so upbeat 🙂

If you have time, you should check out all the covers by each individual artist as well, everyone has a good take of it all!

On that note, Kurt is on fire because just the other day, he put up a acoustic version of Closer by Sara & Tegan and he got them to do the vocals.  Now thats amazing, right? It sounds totally awesome as well!

So that I don’t overload with too much music, this song has been also on repeat because it puts me in this completely relaxed mood and my mind just empties. Its a pretty great feeling.  This one is older but I just found it from one of my workouts last week. Its called Finally Moving by Pretty Lights.

This week, I had one big find on YouTube, non-music related, thanks my best friend.  I love these proposal videos and this one is WAY OVER THE TOP but just so touching and all I can say is WOW! Its 27 minutes but it’ll blow your mind.

That guy did it all so elaborate.  Its just a happy moment to see. It was pretty entertaining and trust me, I get all teary about these things, its just how I am…a hopeless romantic. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it also 🙂 By the way, there was an article for it HERE about how to do the proposal thing right.  Maybe some of you are interested.

Now that I’ve taken enough of your time with a bunch of videos!

What are you watching on obsessing over on TV these days? How about music or videos?

I have nothing to post up tomorrow so I’ll see you all on Monday with continuation of the Halloween marathon 🙂

Have a great weekend! 🙂

Fun Times at the Concert!

I love music! Its part of my life.

Some time 2-3 years ago (or maybe longer) I started falling in love with YouTube independent artists.  I believe the first person to spark my attention was Sam Tsui and Kurt Hugo Schneider.  I have shared some of their music before.  Due to my vacation week and not sure when I would be home, I had to also postpone getting the tickets to their first ever concert and it was along with Alex Goot (another very awesome independent artist) and a bunch of other great groups.

Last Friday, I finally decided that this was really something I wanted to do and there were still tickets left for last night’s show! My best friend came with me.  It was great of her to do so even if she wasn’t as into this as me.  I love the atmosphere of these standing concerts where we get to really move around and have fun with the artists on stage, scream and cheer them on with everybody else in the audience and just have a whole lot of fun! I’ve been to concerts like these at Metropolis and Cafe Campus but this one was called La Tulipe and it was a pretty good venue! 🙂

Somehow, I missed part of the first group that went on and didn’t even catch their group name but they did a really good job.

The group we went in that had started playing!

After that we had a local band go on called Perfect Sideline!

Perfect Sideline!

There are always treasures to be found in these gigs and this group was mine! They totally rocked it and was fantastic! When they were doing the transition, I went right ahead to like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.  Ah..the wonders of having a smart phone, right? Do things before I forget! SCORE!

Next up, we were joined by King The Kid.  A group that I started following when they were another name, Wellington, before one of their team members left. I have been a bit slack on that so I wasn’t as up to date with their music.

King The Kid –> Lead Vocalist

However, this group is energetic and they have great band members.  Ricky plays the heck out of those drums for one!

Ricky –> is awesome on the drums and great on guitar!

I will strive to catch up with their music now! 🙂

After that, they were followed by Against the Current.  I’ve only followed this group when they do collab videos with other independent artists that I follow on YouTube.  They are pretty good as well! The lead singer is a very energetic girl and she teams up with 3 other guys to play the guitar, bass and drums (I think?)

Against the Current

Right when we thought the wait could be no more, FINALLY Kurt and Sam enter the stage and they start.

Sam Tsui and Kurt Schneider doing acoustic

The crowd goes even more wild than they were before! They hit it off to heat up the whole crowd and everyone is in love with their on stage appeal and charisma.  I can tell you right now! I LOVE THESE GUYS!

Sam Tsui

I supported their Kickstarter project and I’m waiting patiently for my copy of the CD to arrive in the mail.  I hope its soon because all those videos they’ve done on the new music is fantastic and I cannot wait to hear it all! Put it in my car and just drive around singing to their awesomeness!

After waiting and waiting and waiting alongside some great music, I was ready for Alex Goot to finally makes his appearance!

Alex Goot accompanied by another awesome artist Luke Conard on guitar!

This tour is in his name and he is the highlight! He did a lot of originals from his album In the Atmosphere (which I own and put in my MP3 to listen to all the time) and he also did some great covers! My favorite is always his rendition of A Thousand Miles originally by Vanessa Carlton.  Love it!

Unfortunately, my best friend had to leave halfway through the final act with Alex Goot but I stayed to enjoy the rest of the show and then ran outside afterwards to get pictures with these talented artists 🙂

King the Kid with their camera!

I didn’t get a picture with them mostly because I was intimidated by the constant crowd around them…I would’ve missed all the public transport to get home. Then guess who walks right out of the doors: PERFECT SIDELINE! The guys who is the keyboard and vocals and their drummer! They were so nice!

Perfect Sideline vocals and drummer

After that, Luke Conard had gotten out front also and I went to get a picture with him.  This guy is awesome! Its too bad he didn’t get to sing tonight.  He has an amazing voice!

Luke Conard Take#1

Luke Conard Take#2

So much fun! He actually took two shots with me.  Very awesome!

Right after, Sam Tsui emerges from the bus and I follow everyone and try to get my chance to get a picture with him.  Sam is totally cool!

Sam Tsui

After that, my final artist that I caught was Kurt Schneider! He’s super nice! I love his music and how creative he is! Love him so much! Plus, he doesn’t sing often but he has an awesome voice as well and plays tons of instruments! 🙂 My inspiration, I tell you!

Kurt Hugo Schneider

By that time, I had wanted to wait for Alex Goot to come out but it was already 11pm and I had to walk to the subway stop which was a good 10 minutes or so away and then catch the bus to get back home!

It was an amazing and fun night! I was so hyped up and it was worth almost losing my voice!

Seriously hope that they perform in Montreal again and if they don’t, in close enough cities that I can go away for the weekend (if it lands on the weekend)! Totally worth it 🙂 Check them out on YouTube if you get a chance! They seriously are amazing artists! 🙂

I might post some of the videos from the performances after I string them together and upload it to YouTube 🙂

Have a great weekend!!

A Little Christmas Medley…

Music is my source to make me happy.  This week has been a tough one and it ended particularly hard.

This morning, I saw this video from some Youtube independent artists.  Both Sam Tsui and Kurt Schneider I follow for the past two years or so and they put out beautiful covers.  Recently this year, Kurt collaborated with Victoria Justice (she starred in recent Halloween flick Fun Size) and Max Schneider to make fun medleys.  They have done two before.  One was for Bruno Mars Medley and the second one is Maroon 5 medley. Both are really fun.

This one is their newest addition called Holiday Medley.  Its pretty awesome! I love it a lot and it makes me extremely happy to hear it!

Hopefully, this will put a smile on your face! Enjoy!