Favourite songs of 2012
I'm obsessed with lists. Not necessarily the songs that have the highest number of replays, but songs that touched my heart in moments in time.
1. Kanjani8 - Wander
The song that pulled me out of server work depression a while ago.
2. Yuuto - Rokuchou-nen to ichiya monogatari (piano vers)
Always listen to this whenever I need to clear my head and calm down. The piano arrangement is gorgeous.
3. SID - Aikagi
I was really into them for a period of time during JC days. Fell in love with their music again 6 years later.
4. Kalafina - To the beginningr
No HD quality rips. You should listen to this off-vocal version and this live version to appreciate how awesome Kalafina is. They can SING.
I started listening to Kalafina seriously only very recently. Which is such a pity. If I knew more about them last year, I would have appreciate their performance at AFA 2011 a lot more. I've been through different phases of their songs. It started with Magia, to Oblivious, to Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa. "To the beginning" happens to my current favourite now.
5. Natsume Yuujinchou - Haru wo shiraseru mono
There are a lot of Ghibli fans around the world. I do enjoy his movies, but I can't seem to click with them and understand the "magic". Natsume Yuujinchou, on the other hand, got me sobbing right from the first episode, and finishing up 3 seasons in one weekend. I guess the tears are not tears of sadness. There's a little sadness, a little happiness, a little hope for the future all mixed in them. My love for this manga and anime needs a post on its own.
I used to ignore OSTs most of the time, especially for animes. Natsume Yuujinchou has opened up a new door for me. The music is wonderfully done. Kimi wo Yobu Namae is another great piece of music as well.
The same can be said for Hotarubi no Mori e, an anime adapation based another manga written by the same author and produced by the same person. Try Aki mo Fuyu mo Haru mo
6. Atari Kousuke - Natsu yuuzora
On a related note, the first ending song of Natsume Yuujinchou. Another song that never fails to cheer me up and calm me down. When this song comes up, no matter on the bus to work or my comfy bed, I will close my eyes, take a deep breathe and imagine myself lying down on a field, with a cool breeze blowing through my hair and starry skys above me.
7. Dasoku - Shinpakusuu
Main song that accompanied through the first half of 2012. It's been nearly a year since I last saw him. ><
8. ONE OK ROCK - C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.
So glad that I took the leap of faith to watch their concert when they came down earlier this year. Awesome awesome Japanese rock band. If I were to pick my favourite artists of the year, they will be ONE OK ROCK and Kalafina
"Make your own storyline, dream as if you will live forever, and live as if you'll die today."
9. Im Jae Bum - Desperado
How can anyone not LOVE his husky vocals?
10. Big Bang - Blue
I certainly didn't expect to like this song so much. But I did. And it was on replay for 3 straight months.
Special Mentions: Other songs I enjoyed this year
- BoA - The Shadows
Only got to appreciate and like her this year. I'm so happy with her new Korean album. While it didn't achieve commercial success, she finally looked alive and happy to be onstage and performing. I think she has found herself back. Her US debut wasn't a success but it seeemed to have done her some good.
- 10cm - It's snowing
Americano is fun, Skin is soothing. It's snowing has this ethereal feeling that I love.
- Katou Kazuki - Bokura no Mirai
Old song, new discovery.
- Sakamoto Maaya - Chibikko Folk and Okitegami
Still regretting not buying Shounen Alice album when I saw it in Japan years ago.
- Jeong Jin Woon " - You walking towards me
Never paid attention to him at all in 2AM so this came as a very pleasant surprise.
I feel like I can't write in English anymore T_T
1. Kanjani8 - Wander
The song that pulled me out of server work depression a while ago.
2. Yuuto - Rokuchou-nen to ichiya monogatari (piano vers)
Always listen to this whenever I need to clear my head and calm down. The piano arrangement is gorgeous.
3. SID - Aikagi
I was really into them for a period of time during JC days. Fell in love with their music again 6 years later.
4. Kalafina - To the beginningr
No HD quality rips. You should listen to this off-vocal version and this live version to appreciate how awesome Kalafina is. They can SING.
I started listening to Kalafina seriously only very recently. Which is such a pity. If I knew more about them last year, I would have appreciate their performance at AFA 2011 a lot more. I've been through different phases of their songs. It started with Magia, to Oblivious, to Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa. "To the beginning" happens to my current favourite now.
5. Natsume Yuujinchou - Haru wo shiraseru mono
There are a lot of Ghibli fans around the world. I do enjoy his movies, but I can't seem to click with them and understand the "magic". Natsume Yuujinchou, on the other hand, got me sobbing right from the first episode, and finishing up 3 seasons in one weekend. I guess the tears are not tears of sadness. There's a little sadness, a little happiness, a little hope for the future all mixed in them. My love for this manga and anime needs a post on its own.
I used to ignore OSTs most of the time, especially for animes. Natsume Yuujinchou has opened up a new door for me. The music is wonderfully done. Kimi wo Yobu Namae is another great piece of music as well.
The same can be said for Hotarubi no Mori e, an anime adapation based another manga written by the same author and produced by the same person. Try Aki mo Fuyu mo Haru mo
6. Atari Kousuke - Natsu yuuzora
On a related note, the first ending song of Natsume Yuujinchou. Another song that never fails to cheer me up and calm me down. When this song comes up, no matter on the bus to work or my comfy bed, I will close my eyes, take a deep breathe and imagine myself lying down on a field, with a cool breeze blowing through my hair and starry skys above me.
7. Dasoku - Shinpakusuu
Main song that accompanied through the first half of 2012. It's been nearly a year since I last saw him. ><
8. ONE OK ROCK - C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.
So glad that I took the leap of faith to watch their concert when they came down earlier this year. Awesome awesome Japanese rock band. If I were to pick my favourite artists of the year, they will be ONE OK ROCK and Kalafina
"Make your own storyline, dream as if you will live forever, and live as if you'll die today."
9. Im Jae Bum - Desperado
How can anyone not LOVE his husky vocals?
10. Big Bang - Blue
I certainly didn't expect to like this song so much. But I did. And it was on replay for 3 straight months.
Special Mentions: Other songs I enjoyed this year
- BoA - The Shadows
Only got to appreciate and like her this year. I'm so happy with her new Korean album. While it didn't achieve commercial success, she finally looked alive and happy to be onstage and performing. I think she has found herself back. Her US debut wasn't a success but it seeemed to have done her some good.
- 10cm - It's snowing
Americano is fun, Skin is soothing. It's snowing has this ethereal feeling that I love.
- Katou Kazuki - Bokura no Mirai
Old song, new discovery.
- Sakamoto Maaya - Chibikko Folk and Okitegami
Still regretting not buying Shounen Alice album when I saw it in Japan years ago.
- Jeong Jin Woon " - You walking towards me
Never paid attention to him at all in 2AM so this came as a very pleasant surprise.
I feel like I can't write in English anymore T_T