Do you ever get in a rut when it comes to music? You listen to the same tunes everyday and at some point it all becomes monotonous; even the songs you used to jam out to suddenly don't invigorate that passion inside you like it used to. You need a change of pace, anything to make you feel something.
Get those ears of yours ready because here is a list of ten songs from around the world that you should immediately check out on YouTube (links will open in a new tab).
Personally, I love really bass voices so this song gets an A+ from me automatically, but if you're into that and a rock-feel to the song, you may love it as well. It starts off acoustically as he sings right up in your ears before making that rock transition. The lyrics are quite dark but don't let that stop you from enjoying the tune.
2. "Unbreakable" by Fireflight
You ready for goosebumps and for your hair to stick up? Her voice is angelic and full of life just like the lyrics to her song. If you're in need of a pick-me-up, I recommend this one.
3. "Leech" by The Gazette (some NSFW language)
Who cares if you don't speak Japanese - the passion is there to be felt in the music. Ruki throws in some f-bombs to add in the angst but with the fast pace of the song, you'll be spinning your head in no time.
4. 狼來了 (Liang Lai Le) by Rainie Yang
Rainie Yang has been changing the Pop scene all the way over in Taiwan (and won't stop just there); this is another one where you don't need to know the language in order to have fun with this song. The Wolf is Coming.. Liang Lai Le !
5. "Superman Can't Fly" by Jay Chou
The King of Mandopop takes the fifth song on this list; not only should you listen to this song but you should check out all of his songs (well... check out all the songs for all these artists but if you choose only one, choose Jay). Seriously. The King knows what he's doing and sings about a variety of subjects: parenthood, (relationship) love, being famous, and more. There's a song for you by him.
6. "Tous Les Mêmes" by Stromae
It's pronounced "mehm" here - not "meem." Anyway. If you're into the bizarre and rapping, you may very well enjoy Stromae; hailing from Belgium, he finds ways to experiment with his music, and it has paid off for him - you can check his rendition of "Papaoutai" on Jimmy Fallon. In "Tous Les Mêmes" (all the same), he raps about the double standards between man and woman.
7. "Sleep" by Eric Whitacre (Virtual Choir)
Maybe you need a different type of music, like one performed by choirs. Eric Whitacre is the contemporary composer who managed to turn dissonance into a bearable and beloved part of his music. If you need help focusing or going to sleep, might I recommend this one...?
8. "Vale" by Murray Gold / "Vale Decem" by Murray Gold
This might be cheating a little bit because there are two links / songs here but I consider them continuations or sequels of each other. Doctor Who fans know these themes well because they are the songs from when David Tennant's Doctor (Ten) regenerated. They are peaceful, haunting songs about saying goodbye... which is exactly what "vale" means in Latin - farewell.
9. "Dearly Beloved" by Yoko Shimomura
The original theme from one of the greatest video games of all time - Kingdom Hearts. "Dearly Beloved" is that calming, gentle introduction you get when you first turn the title screen. Perfect for studying or for when you need to refocus.
10. "Don't Panic" by Clairity (Coldplay Cover)
I might get some flack for saying this but I prefer the cover to the original... sorry Coldplay fans! There's something about this cover that conveys a stronger emotion and breathes a different kind of life into the lyrics. You've got to take a listen to understand what I mean - it'll be worth your time. You may have heard this theme from "X-Men: Apocalypse" trailers.
And there you have it - ten songs to listen to. I tried to incorporate music from different genres (with a leaning bias to metal / rock, admittedly) and outside of America to encourage you to look around. Happy listening!
