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Comenzando - RamónDespite of what the name of both the song and artist sound like, here comes some more Norwegian stuff. I had serious trouble picking out a song because...most artists have lots of good songs but still one that sticks out and is a tiny bit better than the rest. Not with Ramón. I chose from 7 (!) favourite songs, and those were only the major favourites out of a longer list of great songs.
The other songs I considered (and that you should listen to): 1 minutt, Risk, Sint, såra & sykt sjalu, 14 minutter, Si vemos, Jag vil bare danse igjen. |
Miserabel - Stig Brenner After a few years listening mostly to Romanian/Moldovan music, I've got myself completely hooked on the Norwegian hip hop scene (and music in general). Though I've listened to Karpe for years (see below), it's only recently that I've broadened my Norwegian horizon so to speak.
Stig Brenner, a.k.a. Unge Ferrari, is one of many absolutely brilliant Norwegian rappers that I've discovered and likewise, this song is only one of many sooo good songs. Others include, but is certainly not limited to: Når alt ikke er nok (feat. Swedish Molly Sandén, absolutely brilliant, though of course it helps to understand the lyrics), Atlantern, Fri, Duffelbag, Sort magi and Bagasje... |
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Good Together - Scarlet PleasureThis Danish band's song features in the Danish Oscar-winning film starring Mads Mikkelsen called Druk (a.k.a. Another Round in English). I saw the film months late 2020 but didn't bother to check up the band until I heard the song at a dinner party months later, and to quote my boyfriend: 'How did I not know about this band until now?(!)'
Though pretty much all of their songs are great, I CANNOT get enough of this one. The beat, the feel, everything about it is just so perfect! Limbo is also highly recommended, Unreliable and Let Go. If you're still feeling it as much as I am then continue with What a Life (from Druk), Whiplash, Club life, Somebody Else, Deja Vu and Raindrops (Skit). |
Calc pe suflete - RandiI'm continuing with my Romanian theme because they just have too much good stuff over there. Strangely, as far as I can see on Spotify, Randi hasn't actually released any album, but just lots of singles, SO many of which I am totally in love with (where "love" is an understatement), to the extent that I want to listen to all of them just before going to sleep and then end up spending at least 15 more minutes awake just going through all of them. So it was definitely tough choosing a favourite to put up here, so please listen to these as well: Ochii Aia Verzi, Prietena Ta, De Ce Dansezi Asa. Then if you like those, you can also listen to Dansam, Spune Tu, Fana Ma and Visator. There's even more, but these are so worth a listen!
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In Locul Meu - Irina RimesIf you followed my travel blog while in Romania and Moldova, you'll know that I've listened to an embarrassing amount of Moldovan and Romanian music (though I don't actually find it embarrassing). Well, so here's another great Moldovan musician. I cannot stop listening to this one. The title literally translates into "In my place", or in this case "Instead of me". She had a great album I loved (very chill, nice/easy to listen to), but this single beats everything, i.e. also stuff not by her. But so if you like it, you may also like Iubirea Noastra Muta, Ce S-A Intamplat Cu Noi, Beau, and Dans. Hope you like it - in which case there's a lot to explore amongst mainstream Romanian music.
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Pana La Sange - Carla's DreamsAfter having spent three months in Macedonia with Moldovan/ Romanian students (amongst others) listening to the hit song Sub Pielea Mea (the #Midi Culture remix) every Friday night, I decided to give the rest of the songs a chance as well. And no regrets; I've been listening to them on repeat for almost a week, and I still can't enough.
Maybe ignore the video while listening... And just enjoy how incredibly emotional it is!! Then listen to my long list of other favourite songs: Animal De Prada, Imperfect, Unde, Ne Topim, Te Rog, Aripile, Frica, Tequila, Lacrimi Si Pumni In Pereti - there are SO many! |
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Black Flies - Ben HowardFound this guy when putting on one of the many 'relaxing' playlists on Spotify. I had heard the song before, when playing another one of those relaxing playlists; it sounded familiar, and it sounded good, so I put on the entire album, Every Kingdom (Deluxe version) and it's a freaking goldmine!! Great album. I once left the album on, on repeat for an entire day...... (No kidding.) It's one of the few albums that I feel can be both relaxing and 'happy', but it can also satisfy my sad and 'down' mood... This one is on the melancholic side compared to some of the other songs but you could also give some others a go. I'd especially recommend: Diamonds, Everything, Gracious, Empty Corridors, and I Will Be Blessed. But the album as a whole is amazing though.
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Welcome to Heartbreak - Kanye WestSo not too long ago I found this old album, 808s & Heartbreak, with Kanye West that I had never heard about, and from which I had never heard a single song. And it so happens to be (in my opinion) his BEST album by far; even way ahead of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I don't know where this album has been hiding for so many years! This is probably my favourite if I have to pick one (but Heartless; Love Lockdown; RoboCop; Bad News; and Coldest Winter are also in my top.....) Also...I can't get enough of Saint Pablo, from his newest album, The Life of Pablo (the last track). LISTEN and love!
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Laughing with - Regina SpektorI was actually a bit surprised I hadn't put Regina up yet. I believe she's Russian - and sings some songs in a mixture of English and French (and Russian) and a really talented singer.
I started realizing how much this song meant to me when my father ended up in intensive care, and, although I can always listen to it, I am now back to listening to it extra often because of what's going on in my personal life at the moment. She has so many good songs I don't know which ones to pick, but here's a sample if you like this one: Lady, Eet, Fidelity, Hotel Song, All the Rowboats...(I could go on) |
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Home - DiktaLove this Icelandic band, they catch my musical taste in a nutshell. This is my big favourite for calm moments, or right before heading to sleep, but some other songs are a bit more upbeat, in the genre of alternative rock at its best. Other songs to recommend are their hits Thank You, and From Now On, and my other personal favourites like Buy it for the Riot, Warnings and The Story of Roscoe Gray.
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Invisible - LalehThis is a Scandinavian legend (from Sweden), I think mostly famous for the, should I call it, convenience hit of "Some Die Young" around the time of the terrorist attacks in Utøya in Norway. She was not just a convenience though, she happens to be brilliant and was brilliant before that too. Here happens to be her first song of her first album from year goodness knows when. Other good sounds are Some Die Young though, Live Tomorrow, Forgive but not Forget, Simon Says, Samuel, Elephant, What do You Want...actually the list might be too long. She's good.
P.s. Sorry for the awful quality of the video... |
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Påfugl - Karpe DiemThis is a great song by Norwegian band Karpe Diem (påfugl meaning peacock). Actually I wanted to post another song that, despite all the songs on this album being almost equally good, is somewhat above all the others. However, it did not exist on youtube except for in live form...but so if you have spotify, or rdio like I prefer, then you should listen to it there: Skåler med blod (cheering with blood). Or why not listen to the entire album, it is exceptionally fantastic!!
Update: The newest album is also amazing; Heisann Montebello. Perhaps except for Attitudeproblem (track 5), then I love ALL of them. It's repeat-worthy! |
Bad guy - EminemNeedless to say this guy needs no extra publicity, but that does not mean he does not deserve a place here, being my oldest star. I deliberately try to avoid mainstream music, but I would never be ashamed of loving this mainstream hero.
The song itself is like....alright (you should still listen to all of it to hear the "elevation") but it is around 5.34 where the absolutely fantastic part starts that brings the whole song to that somehow even-more-fantastic-than-the-other-songs-point. |
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Simple d'EspritA favourite French band that I call reggae but that I probably must give in that it is not... Notice especially the fantastic solo at 3.55. Such a great feel!
I pardon my ignorance that I have no idea what the song is actually about as I have not taken the time to read the lyrics that are otherwise too fast for my non-French ear. If you enjoy you should also listen to Prendre le Temps, Marlène, La Route pour Ailleurs, de l'Histoire, and Je Préfère Cent Fois. If you like all of those then just go for the rest of them!! |
La Valse d'Amélie - Yann TiersenOne of my absolute favourite musicians and composer. You should know him from Amélie, or Goodbye Lenin! to which he made the original soundtracks. This song, from Amélie, is a such a fantastic one but unfortunately way too short. Notice how the song gets even better at 1.15 by the harmony of all those instruments!
Countless other songs by Yann Tiersen should not go missed but I cannot mention them all here. These are just for starters: Comptine d'un autre Été: L'après-midi, Le Matin, Bagatelle, and Monochrome. |
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