[SONG] Hear Sia's Beautiful Soul

Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, known as Sia, is an Australian singer and songwriter that rises to prominent lately. The first song I heard co-written by Sia Furler was "Titanium" by David Guetta and Sia featured in it (supposed to be Mary J. Blige intially). Lyrically, it was incredible and it was thrilling vocally. I definitely found my favorite song again. As a singer, I cannot doubt her talent, yet, as songwriter, I found out later that she was heavenly gifted. I assume that her breathtaking experience in life has brought her rich perspective in seeing life, love, and human and blended with a beautiful word-spinning talent, she can make such a beautiful and rich metaphor song.

She was supposed to marry her girlfriend (she described herself as a pansexual, can have interest in any gender or sex identity), JD Samson, in June 2010 but broke up later. She was experiencing a deep-blue depression and attempted suicide. Consequently, she suffered from alcohol and painkiller to "reduce" her despair. She even wrote a suicide note. She has a poor health and cancelled all the promotions and shows scheduled before. Diagnosed with a Graves' disease (an autoimmune disease characterized by hyperthyroidism due to circulating autoantibodies), she struggled in her life. Guess what! She didn't give up! She improved herself medically and mentally.

Could you imagine going through her life and experience? However, it was not a going-for-nothing experience. Look at her! She is shining. "Titanium" co-written and featured her vocal was her peak-point beginning. After that, there was a success of party-themed "Wild Ones" that was also co-written and featured her vocal. She wrote the songs for many other singers afterwards: Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Ne-Yo, Céline Dion, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Shakira, Kylie Minogue, Lea Michele, Jeniffer Lopez, Eminem, Maroon 5, Rita Ora, and still counting. Some of their beautiful songs lately maybe was written by Sia Furler.

She is so humble and a true artist, not a media-user addict. Sia announced her engagement to filmmaker Erik Anders Lang on June 6th, 2014 and married on August 2nd, 2014. I wish them happiness.

Here are the songs with various themes co-written or contain Furler's vocal that I favor so much.

1. "Chandelier" by Sia

2. "Loved Me Back to Life" by Céline Dion

3. "Titanium" by David Guetta featuring Sia

4. "Wild Ones" by Flo Rida featuring Sia

5. "My Love" by Sia

6. "Elastic Heart" by Sia featuring The Weeknd and Diplo

7. "Pretty Hurts" by Beyoncé

8. "Beautiful Pain" by Eminem featuring Sia

9. "Guts Over Fear" by Eminem featuring Sia

10. "Diamonds" by Rihanna

11. "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" by Ne-Yo

12. "Fire Meet Gasoline" by Sia

13. "Flashlight" by Jessie J

Here are the additional ones after Sia released "This Is Acting" in 2016.

14. "Broken Glass" by Sia

"I'm not discarding you like broken glass
There are no winners when the die is cast
There's only tears when it's the final chance
So don't give up, it's just young lovers' romance
So don't give up, it's just young lovers' romance"

15. "Alive" by Sia

16. "Unstoppable" by Sia

"I put my armor on
Show you how strong how I am
I put my armor on
I'll show you that I am."

Complete playlist:

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[SONG] Heart-Rubbing Mandarin Ballad

Well, I make this playlist because I know some certain songs that will make you gloomy (tend to be sad) while listening to. However, don't expect me to be a Mandarin expert. I have no idea how to speak Mandarin. Okay, just check this out.

1. "Jú Huā Tái" (Chrysanthemum Flower Bed) by Jay Chou

I think to completely witness the gloomy feeling from this song, you must watch Curse of the Golden Flower by a brilliant Chinese and award-winning director, Zhang Yimou. To be honest, I watched this movie because of the beautiful Gong Li (and let's not talk about it further).

The song itself is a mixture of elegant and modern-traditional taste of Chinese music. Moreover, the Chou's mellow voice made this song so saddening.

2. "Mù Lán Xīng" (Mulan Star) by Jane Zhang

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Okay, this time it is Mulan: Rise of a Warrior and this time I watched this movie because of Zhao Wei (and let's not talk about it further too). Mulan: Rise of a Warrior was a drama movie, so don't image watching a romantic comedy movie or happy-and-comical Disney's version.

"Mù Lán Xīng" contains a thick traditional Chinese music and presented greatly by Zhang's voice. Well, I don't understand any lyrics (or the English-translated one), but I just feel the pain through the music.

3. "Shí Jiān Zhǔ Yǔ" (Time Boils the Rain) by Yisa Yu and Wu Yi Fan (Kris)

Well, a movie soundtrack too, Tiny Times. Well, I watched this because I was really bored, then I googled the highest grossing Chinese movies and Tiny Times was one of them.

"Shí Jiān Zhǔ Yǔ" was the original soundtrack of Tiny Times (or Tiny Times 1.0). Yisa Yu sang the first movie and I completely felt in love and blue while listening to this song. I thought Yisa Yu brilliantly did a great job. When she sung it live, everybody was just silent and tried to sing it along silently. Watch it!

"Shí Jiān Zhǔ Yǔ" was also sung by Wu Yi Fan (Kris the ex-member of EXO) for the Tiny Times 3 original soundtrack. He was also successful capturing the mellow atmosphere and transformed the song into a good one without losing its original melting taste.

4. "Wǒ Ài Nǐ" (I Love You) by S.H.E

"Wǒ Ài Nǐ" is my most favorite song by S.H.E. It captured the romantic, sad, and painful side. Watch the music video too (I insist!).

5. "Wǒ Ài Nǐ" (I Love You) by Debbie Hsiao (or Xiao He Shuo)

Brilliant. An exceptionally favorable gloomy and sad lyrics. The music and lyrics was arranged by Hsiao herself. Hsiao has a sultry that is fitted to sing a ballad like "Wǒ Ài Nǐ" (sometimes known as "Salanheo" means Korean "saranghaeyo", "I Love You").

6. "Wǒ Yuàn Yì" (I'm Willing) by Faye Wong

"Wǒ Yuàn Yì" is one of the signature songs by Heavenly Queen or Diva of Asia, Faye Wong. Listening to this song, I believe you can imagine why Faye Wong was called Heavenly Queen. Her angelic voice is so rare, heart-touching, also painful, especially in "Wǒ Yuàn Yì."

7. "Ràng Wǒ Ài Nǐ" (Let Me Love You) by Vic Zhou & Barbie Hsu

This song is quite simple and moving. One of the original soundtrack of Taiwanese drama, Mars (that I watched not purposefully a looooong tiiiiime agoooooo. Thanks to my auntie.). Don't expect an acrobatic vocal run because it's so simple (like my aforesaid statement) with a beautiful piano arrangement.

8. "Mù Lán Qíng" (Mulan's Passion) by Stefanie Sun

"Mù Lán Qíng" is also the original soundtrack of Mulan: Rise of a Warrior. I love this song, composed with a traditional wave and melismatic vocal run by Sun. Favorable and unique (and touching as well). You could feel Mulan's pain in this song.

9. "Cǎi Hóng" (Rainbow) by Jay Chou

"Cǎi Hóng" is my recent favorite song. This song is one of successful song by Jay Chou. The melody and the Chou's voice can blend into the sadness bomb. It's complemented with a narrative music video that helps the viewer to fall into the feeling. It is so beautifully arranged as a slow tear-dropping ballad.

Enjoy the complete playlist!

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[SONG] The Three Divas Singing Their "Shake It Off"

"Shake It Off" (shake sb/sth off), from Cambrige Dictionaries Online, means 1. to get away from someone or something that will not stop following you. 2. (informal) to beat an opponent, or to free yourself from someone or something that is limiting you. The idiom seems so appealing to some singers to sing and write the personal songs titled "Shake It Off" with various meanings and genres. These are three popular singers that I knew have the singles titled "Shake It Off." Let's not compare them because their own "Shake It Off"s are really different at the meaning and the spirit.

1. Taylor Swift

Swift's version is about the Swift's dislike of haters. This is the lead single of Swift's fifth album (the first pop one), 1989. Rich of drum beat. Personally, I didn't recognize the production of Max Martin (that has worked with Katy Perry ("California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "E.T.", "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)", "Roar", "Dark Horse", etc.), Britney Spears ("...Baby One More Time", "Oops!... I Did It Again", "Till the World Ends", "I Wanna Go", etc.), and many more) and Shellback (Britney Spears ("If U Seek Amy", "I Wanna Go", etc.), Pink ("So What", "Raise Your Glass", etc.), and many more). Exactly, it's not the first time Swift working with them. On the previous album (Red), Max Martin and Shellback wrote and produced "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", "I Knew You Were Trouble", and "22".

The music video is typical pop music video with an extensive dance move (twerkiiing!). The song with a contiguous freedom taste.


2. Mariah Carey

"Shake It Off" maybe was less popular than a massive and queen-returning "We Belong Together," but this song was considered one of the best songs in The Emancipation of Mimi and reached moderate success (peaked at #2 on Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks!) and crowned Carey's as the first female lead artist occupied the top two positions of the Hot 100 ("We Belong Together" #1 and "Shake It Off" #2 at the same week). The Carey's version is rich of R&B sound that was praised with generally positive reviews from music critics.

"Shake It Off" remarks the standout from a relationship with an unfaithful lover, packing the Louis Vuitton and breaking up with him over an answering machine. Very favorable, R&B, and Mariah Carey.


3. Agnez Mo (previously known as Agnes Monica)

"Shake It Off" was included by an Indonesia pop singer, Agnez Mo, in her third studio album, Sacredly Agnezious. Agnez Mo herself wrote the song and Erwin Gutawa produced it. Agnez's voice is incredible here, not over-sang and melismatic at the end. The song contains a rich dance vibe and the lyrics suggest us to follow her to dance and shake it off!


They write and sing them for you, so enjoy and shake it off!

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[SONG] Songs Making Darker Feeling

Have you ever felt your mood suddenly changes when listening to a certain kind of song? Well, this time I would like to express the songs that often make me feel darker and addicted. It's maybe because of the lyrics, music, or even the singers themselves (I couldn't completely find it out with the particular reason). However, I LOVE the feeling and keep listening to these particular songs on and on. Enjoy!

1. "Team" by Lorde

When I heard "Royals," the first single by Lorde, honestly I didn't really love it. However, when "Team" was released, I was so pleased. I love kind of mood that Lorde brought into this song (and almost all songs in her first album, her voice suits this kind of music). "Team" was my favorite and the darkest.

Lorde (at this time, 17 yo) is such an amazing talent. She was the youngest person to be nominated for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, with "Royals." I hope she could keep my mood darker. (Seriously, do you guys feel the same?)


2. "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley

God, I freakingly love this song covered by Jeff Buckley. I didn't understand the lyrics (and stopped trying, just enjoyed my confusion). For the first time, I feel dark mood when listening to a religious song. I could not describe my feeling, you just have to listen to this Leonard Cohen's classic by Buckley.

I'm just obsessed. Just a simple song with an electric guitar and mesmerized voice.

I remember that this cover saved the life of Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy when he attempted to suicide because of his depression (two thumps up!).


3. "Paper Planes" by M.I.A.

M.I.A. brought an organic sound in "Paper Planes." This song was highly praised for its blending of political and pop. For me, "Paper Planes" is just an unique song with the usage cash register and shooting sound, leaves me with a street and urban taste. It peaked at #4 on Billboard Hot 100 and nominated for Record of the Year, the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009.


4. "Summertime Sadness" by Lana Del Rey

Well, "Summertime Sadness" is a complete package of darkness: the music, lyrics, and music video. The music? You just need to hear it yourself. The lyrics? Think I'll miss you forever like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky/Later's better than never even if you're gone I'm gonna drive (drive, drive). Okay, the most crucial one, the music video. The music video contains a despair atmosphere, impossible-to-be-together love affair, and suicide because of love. Anything has not been mentioned? However, I love it. I never feel depressed while listening to this song. I just feel dark and happy hahahaha.

P.S. Lana Del Rey is, you know, the kind of singer that sings dark-mood songs (with her voice, it's incredible). She has many songs with an alike "Summertime Sadness" mood, but I'm going to include two more (based on my preference).


5. "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey (again)

"Young and Beautiful" was an original soundtrack of The Great Gatsby. This song was well done. Lana's voice is like hunting you here. Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul? I know you will, I know you will. It sounds like a threat, right? I know you WILL, I know you WILL. hahahaha.


6. "Once Upon A Dream" by Lana Del Rey (again and again)

Lana transformed sweet and love-at-the-first-sight theme"Once Upon a Dream" in The Sleeping Beauty into a dark one in Maleficent (2014). It's like a song for a nightmare. Most of my friends thought that this song was sung by Maleficent herself (acted by Angelina Jolie). Angelina Jolie personally chose Lana Del Rey to sing it for the movie. I think it's brilliant because of the Gothic theme of the movie.


7. "Shot You Down" by Audio Bullys featuring Nancy Sinatra

"Shot You Down" was taken from "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" covered by Nancy Sinatra. "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" was originally sung by Cher and inspired various artists, such as will.i.am and David Guetta, to make a cover or sample it. This Audio Bullys' version is my favorite one.


8. "A Wake" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Evan Roman

This song contains lyrics that reflect a modern reality. "A Wake" is so pleasing with incredible Evan Roman's voice. I think it's so simple and original, not really like other rap songs that sometimes contain annoying sound. Well, "I need love/You need love/Give me love and I'll give you my love" sounds fair for me and threatening as well.


9. "My Love" by Sia

I haven't watched The Twilight Saga: New Moon, so I don't know whether this song was quite well for that movie or not. Still, "My Love" is not such a romantic song because its lack of smoothness, but it's composed by emotion, piano-driven melody, and Sia's voice that are contagious to hear at certain level.


10. "Somewhere over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland

Simple because of its mystical feeling. Pleasing and non interchangeable. It's like you're ready to get lost following Dorothy.



Enjoy the playlist and feel darkeeeer!

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[SONG] I-Won't-Hear-You Anthems

Well, have you ever felt that no body understands what you're doing and you just like "I don't careee!" This is a playlist containing some songs that maybe reflect you own feeling right now. This is just my personal playlist, so don't complaint if I didn't include the song that maybe you know (it's impossible I know every songs, right?). There are "I don't care! Back off!" songs, controversial, and motivational ones. Feel free to add the songs that you know on the comment. Voilà, just enjoy I-won't-hear-you anthems.


I don't CAREEEEEEEEEEE what you think
as long as it's about MEEEE!

1. "I Don't Care" by Fall Out Boy

The first time I heard this song was when I was in high school and I immediately felt this was my favorite one. The lyrics contain statements that encourage us to be self-independent of what people think about us as long as we're happy and comfortable about ourselves. I personally use this song and scream it out loud when I feel completely blue about the offence shot by people surrounding me. Lock the door, say "I don't caaaaaare about what you think as long as it's about me!"

"I Don't Care" is lead single from Folie à Deux by Fall Out Boy in 2008. This song enjoyed a moderate success in US and Australia. I love the pop-punk, make me really feel like a dissident whenever I sing it. If you're under seventeen, I don't really suggest you to watch the official music video hahahaha.



They tried to make me go to rehab
but I said, 'NO, NO, NO.'

2. "Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

"Rehab" is a signature song of the late Amy Winehouse. Well, this song is incredible and rich of soul wave. Winning three Grammy Awards in 2008 (nominated for two more). However, I remember Amy couldn't go to the ceremony and receive the awards personally because of no permission from UK government.

"Rehab" tells the refusal by Amy to go the rehab although she was insisted going by everybody. At that time, Amy was labeled as troubled singer with many controversies following her. The message I want you to instill that it's okay to compromise yourself and follow the advise from somebody that loves and cares about you (highlight: LOVES and CARES).

If you wanna just scream, SCREAM YOUR LUNGS OUT

If you wanna just cry, CRY YOUR EYES OUT

(I'm not doing that)

3. "Mannequin" by Britney Spears

Exactly, Britney Spears has some songs that can be concluded in this list and I am going to tell the others afterward. Personally, I like the concept of this song. It's like you can do whatever you want (dressing me, crying, and screaming) and I won't change (my face is like a mannequin).

"Mannequin" was included in Britney's album, Circus (2008). This album was considered as a true comeback of Britney. "Mannequin" maybe is not as strong and addicting to hear like the songs decided as singles from Circus, but I think it's still pleasing to hear.

Love me hate me

SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT ME

But all of the boys and all of the girls are

begging to If U Seek Amy

4. "If U Seek Amy" by Britney Spears

I assume that you know this is a controversial song. Still, I would tell you the reasons.

First, its popular phonetically spelling is like "F*CK ME" (If = F You = U SEE = C K AMY = K ME). So, can you image that the song sounds like "Love me hate me/Say what you want about me/But all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to...."

Second, Amy. In 2007-2008 before Circus was released, Britney encountered a mental breakdown (a really serious one), made many controversial deeds, and stirred media into a magic havoc. The publication of Britney was as strong as publication of Amy Winehouse in UK. Some perceived that "If U Seek Amy" was declaration of Britney's dislike of people's assumption that she would encounter the same fate to Amy Winehouse. However, some argued that Amy was an alter ego of Britney. Well, it stays a mystery.

The song itself is like a b*tchy way to say "Back off!"



I'm Mrs. "Oh my God that Britney's shameless!"
(You want a piece of me)
...
I'm Mrs. "She's too big now she's too thin."
(You want a piece of me)

5. "Piece of Me" by Britney Spears

This song was like a story of Spears' life. The message is no matter how good you are, there will be always people badmouthing you (Guess I can't see the harm in working and being a mama/And with a kid on my arm I'm still an exceptional earner).



They can say anything they want to say,
Try to bring me down,
But I will not allow anyone to succeed hanging clouds over me,
And they can try how to make me feel that I, 
Don't matter at all,
But I refuse to falter in what I believe or loose faith in my dreams

6. "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" by Mariah Carey

Well, I don't know why Carey had to put "(Mariah's Theme)" on the official title. Okay, let's not discuss about it. This is the song that I fully RECOMMEND to you when you encounter a hard criticism and feel deeply blue. This beautiful song was written by Mariah Carey herself and Dianne Warren (shockingly, Warren wanted to share the songwriting with anybody else). Dianne Warren is a songwriter of many successful and award-winning hits, such as "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith, "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes, "Because You Loved Me" by Céline Dion, and so oooon.

The lyrics are so beautiful and encouraging to pursue our dreams, no matter what others say. Of course, it contains spiritual message within (I think it's Mariah's character to put a hope for God's help in her motivational songs). I insist to watch the lyrics video below.

Lord knows dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone tear them away

7. "Hero" by Mariah Carey

Description? No need!



Miss 'No way, it's all good!'
It didn't slow me down.

8. "Funckin' Perfect" by Pink (stylized as P!nk)

"Fuckin' Perfect" or "Fucking Perfect" or "F**kin' Perfect" or "F#@%ing Perfect" or "Perfect" is quite empowering song to clear a "you-have-to-do-this-and-that-to-be-good" label by everyone. Stop poisoning ourselves with the dogma of dying our own personalities to be accepted by society.



I'm critized but all your bullets ricochet.

9. "Titanium" - David Guetta featuring Sia

This song is one of the most successful songs by David Guetta and Sia without any significant promotions. The unique voice of Sia molded well in this song. Originally, "Titanium" was intended to be sung by Mary J. Blige (Blige's version was recorded too), but Guetta felt that Sia (the songwriter) was the key of this song.

I heard "Titanium" before it was decided to be a single when I heard the Guetta's complete album, Nothing but the Beat. I love this song immediately because of its strong composition and electronic tunes that were melted so well.

The song itself describes the refusal of being controlled by cruel criticism. We're as powerful as titanium, so let's not let anybody shoot you down and fall for being someone that is not you. You shoot me down but I won't fall/I am titanium.

Bonus:

Yess, dear, it's "Titanium."



Enjoy the playlist!

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